Sample records for gouveia dal pino

  1. Explaining the features of the Bipolar Nebulae of η-Carinae through gas dynamical simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    de Gouveia dal Pino, E. M.; Gonzalez, R. F.; Raga, A. C.; Velezquez, P. F.

    2005-09-01

    Employing an alternative scenario to previous interacting stellar wind models that is supported both by theoretical and observational evidence, we let a nonspherical outburst wind (with a latitudinal velocity dependence that matches the observations of the large Homunculus) interact with a preeruptive slow wind also with a toroidal density distribution but with a much smaller equator-to-polar density contrast than that assumed in previous models. A second eruptive wind with spherical shape is ejected about 50 years after the first outburst and causes the development of the little internal nebula. We find that as a result of an appropriate combination of the parameters that control the degree of asymmetry of the interacting winds, the model is able to produce not only the structure and kinematics of both Homunculi but also the high-velocity components of the equatorial ejecta. These latter arise from the impact between the nonspherical outburst and the preoutburst winds in the equatorial plane (see Figs. 1 and 2 in Gonzalez, de Gouveia Dal Pino, Raga & Velazquez 2004a). Our model predicts that most of the features of the bipolar winds of eta-Carinae and the source ejection mechanism are directly linked to the central star only, therefore without requiring to invoke the secondary wind of the companion star to explain, e.g., the equatorial ejecta (Gonzalez, de Gouveia Dal Pino, Raga & Velazquez 2004b).

  2. Highlights of Astronomy, Vol. 15

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Corbett, Ian

    2010-11-01

    Preface; Part I. Gruber Cosmology Prize Lecture; Part II. Invited Discourses; Part III. Joint Discussions: 1. Dark matter in early-type galaxies Léon V. E. Koopmans and Tommaso Treu; 2. Diffuse light in galaxy clusters Magda Arnaboldi and Ortwin Gerhard; 3. Neutron stars - timing in extreme environments Tomaso Belloni, Mariano Méndez and Chengmin Zhang; 4. Progress in understanding the physics of Ap and related stars Margarida Cunha; 5. Modelling the Milky Way in the age of Gaia Annie C. Robin; 6. Time and astronomy Pascale Defraigne; 7. Astrophysical outflows and associated accretion phenomena Elisabete M. de Gouveia Dal Pino and Alex C. Raga; 8. Hot interstellar matter in elliptical galaxies Dong-Woo Kim and Silvia Pellegrini; 9. Are the fundamental constants varying with time? Paolo Molaro and Elisabeth Vangioni; 10. 3D views on cool stellar atmospheres - theory meets observation K. N. Nagendra, P. Bonifacio and H. G. Ludwig; 11. New advances in helio- and astero-seismology; 12. The first galaxies - theoretical predictions and observational clues; 13. Eta Carinae in the context of the most massive stars Theodore R. Gull and Augusto Damineli; 14. The ISM of galaxies in the far-infrared and sub-millimetre; 15. Magnetic fields in diffuse media Elisabete M. de Gouveia Dal Pino and Alex Lazarian; 16. IHY global campaign - whole heliosphere interval; Part IV. Special Sessions: SpS 1. IR and sub-mm spectroscopy - a new tool for studying stellar evolution Glenn Wahlgren, Hans Käufl and Florian Kerber; SpS 2. The international year of astronomy Pedro Russo, Catherine Cesarsky and Lars Lindberg Christensen; SpS 3. Astronomy in Antarctica in 2009 Michael G. Burton; SpS 4. Astronomy education between past and future J. P. De Greve; SpS 5. Accelerating the rate of astronomical discovery Ray P. Norris; SpS 6. Planetary systems as potential sites for life Régis Courtin, Alan Boss and Michel Mayor; SpS 7. Young stars, brown dwarfs, and protoplanetary disks Jane Gregorio-Hetem and Silvia Alencar; SpS 8. The galactic plane N. A. Walton, A. Damineli, M. G. Hoare, J. E. Drew, Roberto D. D. Costa and Walter J. Maciel; SpS 9. Marking the 400th anniversary of Kepler's 'astronomia nova' T. J. Mahoney; SpS 10. Next generation large astronomical facilities Gerard F. Gilmore and Richard T. Schilizzi; Author index.

  3. Production of gamma ray bursts from asymmetric core combustion of magnetized young neutron stars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    de Gouveia dal Pino, E. M.; Lugones, G.; Horvath, J. E.; Ghezzi, C. R.

    2005-09-01

    Many works in the past have explored the idea that the conversion of hadronic matter into strange quark matter in neutron stars may be an energy source for GRBs (see references in Lugones et al. 2002, Lugones and Horvath 2003). These models addressed essentially spherically symmetric conversions of the whole neutron star rendering isotropic gamma emission. Accumulating observational evidence suggests that at least ''long'' GRBs are strongly asymmetric, jet-like outflows. The ''short'' burst subclass is not obviously asymmetric, and they may actually be spherically symmetric if the sources are close enough. A new potentially important feature recently recognized (Lugones et al. 2002) is that if a conversion to strange quark matter actually begins near the center of a neutron star, the presence of a magnetic field with intensity B ˜ 1013 G (see also Ghezi, de Gouveia Dal Pino & Horvath 2004) will originate a prompt collimated gamma emission, which may be observed as a short, beamed GRB after the recovery of a fraction of the neutrino energy via ν {barν} → e+e- → γγ. The calculations show that the neutrino luminosity is ˜ 1053 erg/sec and that the e+e- luminosity is about two orders of magnitude smaller ( tet{Lugones2002grb}). We find that 90 % of the e+e- pairs are injected inside small cylinders located just above the polar caps (with radius δ and height 0.4 R) in a timescale of τi ≃ 0.2 s almost independently of the initial temperature. This provides an interesting suitable explanation for the inner engine of short gamma ray bursts.

  4. Modeling of Selected Continental Slope Processes

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1999-09-30

    photographs of stratigraphy: AAPG 2000 annual convention Iverson, R.M., and Reid, M.E., 1992. Gravity-driven groundwater flow and slope failure potential; 1...and deposits, in Bouma et al. (eds), Turbidites: AAPG /SEG special publication. Pratson, L., Gouveia, W., Courtney, R., Syvitski, J.P., Paola, C., and...Geophysical Society 15-19 August, 1999, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Pratson, L., and Gouveia, W., in review. Linking stratigraphic and seismic modeling: AAPG

  5. Kinetics of self-decomposition and hydrogen atom transfer reactions of substituted phthalimide N-oxyl radicals in acetic acid.

    PubMed

    Cai, Yang; Koshino, Nobuyoshi; Saha, Basudeb; Espenson, James H

    2005-01-07

    Kinetic data have been obtained for three distinct types of reactions of phthalimide N-oxyl radicals (PINO(.)) and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) derivatives. The first is the self-decomposition of PINO(.) which was found to follow second-order kinetics. In the self-decomposition of 4-methyl-N-hydroxyphthalimide (4-Me-NHPI), H-atom abstraction competes with self-decomposition in the presence of excess 4-Me-NHPI. The second set of reactions studied is hydrogen atom transfer from NHPI to PINO(.), e.g., PINO(.) + 4-Me-NHPI <=> NHPI + 4-Me-PINO(.). The substantial KIE, k(H)/k(D) = 11 for both forward and reverse reactions, supports the assignment of H-atom transfer rather than stepwise electron-proton transfer. These data were correlated with the Marcus cross relation for hydrogen-atom transfer, and good agreement between the experimental and the calculated rate constants was obtained. The third reaction studied is hydrogen abstraction by PINO(.) from p-xylene and toluene. The reaction becomes regularly slower as the ring substituent on PINO(.) is more electron donating. Analysis by the Hammett equation gave rho = 1.1 and 1.8 for the reactions of PINO(.) with p-xylene and toluene, respectively.

  6. Reactions of the phthalimide N-oxyl radical (PINO) with activated phenols: the contribution of π-stacking interactions to hydrogen atom transfer rates.

    PubMed

    D'Alfonso, Claudio; Bietti, Massimo; DiLabio, Gino A; Lanzalunga, Osvaldo; Salamone, Michela

    2013-02-01

    The kinetics of reactions of the phthalimide N-oxyl radical (PINO) with a series of activated phenols (2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman-6-ol (PMC), 2,6-dimethyl- and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-substituted phenols) were investigated by laser flash photolysis in CH(3)CN and PhCl in order to establish if the reactions with PINO can provide a useful tool for evaluating the radical scavenging ability of phenolic antioxidants. On the basis of the small values of deuterium kinetic isotope effects, the relatively high and negative ρ values in the Hammett correlations and the results of theoretical calculations, we suggest that these reactions proceed by a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanism having a significant degree of charge transfer resulting from a π-stacked conformation between PINO and the aromatic ring of the phenols. Kinetic solvent effects were analyzed in detail for the hydrogen transfer from 2,4,6-trimethylphenol to PINO and the data obtained are in accordance with the Snelgrove-Ingold equation for HAT. Experimental rate constants for the reactions of PINO with activated phenols are in accordance with those predicted by applying the Marcus cross relation.

  7. Gene transfer of inducible nitric oxide synthase complementary DNA regresses the fibrotic plaque in an animal model of Peyronie's disease.

    PubMed

    Davila, Hugo H; Magee, Thomas R; Vernet, Dolores; Rajfer, Jacob; Gonzalez-Cadavid, Nestor F

    2004-11-01

    The goal of the present study was to investigate the antifibrotic role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in Peyronie's disease (PD) by determining whether a plasmid expressing iNOS (piNOS) injected into a PD-like plaque can induce regression of the plaque. A PD-like plaque was induced with fibrin in the penile tunica albuginea of mice and then injected with a luciferase-expressing plasmid (pLuc), either alone or with piNOS, following luciferase expression in vivo by bioluminescence imaging. Rats were treated with either piNOS, an empty control plasmid (pC), or saline. Other groups were treated with pC or piNOS, in the absence of fibrin. Tissue sections were stained for collagen, transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1, and plasminogen-activator inhibitor (PAI-1) as profibrotic factors; copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) as scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS); and nitrotyrosine to detect nitric oxide reaction with ROS. Quantitative image analysis was applied. Both iNOS and xanthine oxido-reductase (XOR; oxidative stress) were estimated by Western blot analysis. Luciferase reporter expression was restricted to the penis, peaked at 3 days after injection, but continued for at least 3 wk. In rats receiving piNOS, iNOS expression also peaked at 3 days, but expression decreased at the end of treatment, when a considerable reduction of plaque size occurred. Protein nitrotyrosine, XOR, and CuZn SOD increased, and TGFbeta1 and PAI-1 decreased. The piNOS gene transfer regressed the PD plaque and expression of profibrotic factors, supporting the view that endogenous iNOS induction in PD is defense mechanism by the tissue against fibrosis.

  8. Prevalence and Mode of Inheritance of the Dal Blood Group in Dogs in North America.

    PubMed

    Goulet, S; Giger, U; Arsenault, J; Abrams-Ogg, A; Euler, C C; Blais, M-C

    2017-05-01

    The Dal blood group system was identified a decade ago by the accidental sensitization of a Dal- Dalmatian with a Dal+ blood transfusion. Similar Dal-related blood incompatibilities have been suspected in other Dalmatians, Doberman Pinschers, and other breeds. To determine the prevalence and mode of inheritance of the Dal antigen expression in dogs. A total of 1130 dogs including 128 Dalmatians, 432 Doberman Pinschers, 21 Shih Tzus, and 549 dogs of other breeds including 228 blood donors were recruited from North America between 2008 and 2015. Prospectively, dogs were blood typed for Dal applying a gel column technique using polyclonal canine anti-Dal sera. Pedigrees from 8 typed families were analyzed. The prevalence of the Dal+ blood type varied between 85.6 and 100% in Dalmatians and 43.3-78.6% in Doberman Pinschers depending on geographical area. Dal- dogs were identified mostly in Dalmatians (15/128; 11.7%), Doberman Pinschers (183/432; 42.4%), and Shih Tzus (12/21; 57.1%), and sporadically in mixed-breed dogs (3/122; 2.5%), Lhasa Apsos (1/6) and Bichon Frises (1/3). Only 6/245 (2.4%) blood donors were found to be Dal-, including 5 Doberman Pinschers. The mode of inheritance of the Dal+ phenotype was determined to be autosomal dominant. The high percentage of Dal- Doberman Pinchers, Dalmatians and Shih Tzus increases their risk of being sensitized by a blood transfusion from the common Dal+ donor. Extended Dal typing is recommended in those breeds and in dogs when blood incompatibility problems arise after initial transfusions. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

  9. A new fusion protein platform for quantitatively measuring activity of multiple proteases

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background Recombinant proteins fused with specific cleavage sequences are widely used as substrate for quantitatively analyzing the activity of proteases. Here we propose a new fusion platform for multiple proteases, by using diaminopropionate ammonia-lyase (DAL) as the fusion protein. It was based on the finding that a fused His6-tag could significantly decreases the activities of DAL from E. coli (eDAL) and Salmonella typhimurium (sDAL). Previously, we have shown that His6GST-tagged eDAL could be used to determine the activity of tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp) under different temperatures or in the denaturant at different concentrations. In this report, we will assay different tags and cleavage sequences on DAL for expressing yield in E. coli, stability of the fused proteins and performance of substrate of other common proteases. Results We tested seven different protease cleavage sequences (rhinovirus 3C, TEV protease, factor Xa, Ssp DnaB intein, Sce VMA1 intein, thrombin and enterokinase), three different tags (His6, GST, CBD and MBP) and two different DALs (eDAL and sDAL), for their performance as substrate to the seven corresponding proteases. Among them, we found four active DAL-fusion substrates suitable for TEVp, factor Xa, thrombin and DnaB intein. Enterokinase cleaved eDAL at undesired positions and did not process sDAL. Substitution of GST with MBP increase the expression level of the fused eDAL and this fusion protein was suitable as a substrate for analyzing activity of rhinovirus 3C. We demonstrated that SUMO protease Ulp1 with a N-terminal His6-tag or MBP tag displayed different activity using the designed His6SUMO-eDAL as substrate. Finally, owing to the high level of the DAL-fusion protein in E. coli, these protein substrates can also be detected directly from the crude extract. Conclusion The results show that our designed DAL-fusion proteins can be used to quantify the activities of both sequence- and conformational-specific proteases, with sufficient substrate specificity. PMID:24649897

  10. 13 CFR 120.312 - DAL-1 use of proceeds and other program conditions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 13 Business Credit and Assistance 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false DAL-1 use of proceeds and other... BUSINESS LOANS Special Purpose Loans Disabled Assistance Loan Program (dal) § 120.312 DAL-1 use of proceeds and other program conditions. (a) DAL-1 applicants must submit appropriate documents to establish...

  11. Post Fire Vegetation Recovery in Greece after the large Drought event of 2007

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouveia, Célia M.; Bastos, Ana; DaCamara, Carlos; Trigo, Ricardo

    2013-04-01

    Fire is a natural factor of Mediterranean ecosystems. However, fire regimes in the European Mediterranean areas have been changing in the last decades, mainly due to land-use changes and climate driven factors possibly associated with climatic warming (e.g. decline of precipitation, increasing temperatures but also higher frequency of heatwaves). In Greece, the fire season of 2007 was particularly devastating, achieving the new all-time record of estimated burnt area (225 734 ha), since 1980. Additionally, we must stress that prior to the summer fire season in 2007, Greece suffered an exceptional drought event. This severe drought had a strong negative impact in vegetation dynamics. Since water availability is a crucial factor in post-fire vegetation recovery, it is desirable to assess the impact that such water-stress conditions had on fire sensitivity and post-fire vegetation recovery. Based on monthly values of NDVI, at the 1km×1km spatial scale, as obtained from the VEGETATION-SPOT5 instrument, from 1999 to 2010, large burnt scars are identified in Greece, during 2007 fire season. Vegetation recovery is then assessed based on a mono parametric regression model originally developed by Gouveia et al. (2010) to identify large burnt scars in Portugal during the 2003 fire season and after applied to 2005 fire season (Bastos et al., 2012). Some large burnt areas are selected and the respective NDVI behaviour is monitored throughout the pre and the post fire period. The vegetation dynamics during the pre-fire period is analysed and related to the extreme climatic events that characterised the considered period. An analysis is made of the dependence of recovery rates on land cover types and fire damage. Finally results are compared to results already obtained for Portugal (Gouveia et al. 2010). This work emphasises the use of a simple methodology, when applied to low resolution satellite imagery in order to monitor vegetation recovery after large fires events over distinct regions of Mediterranean Europe. Gouveia C., DaCamara C.C, Trigo R.M. (2010). "Post-fire vegetation dynamics in Portugal". Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 10, 4, 673-684. Bastos A., Gouveia C., DaCamara C.C., and Trigo R.M.: Modelling post-fire vegetation recovery in Portugal.Biogeosciences, 8, 4559-4601, 2011.

  12. Forest fires caused by lightning activity in Portugal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Russo, Ana; Ramos, Alexandre M.; Benali, Akli; Trigo, Ricardo M.

    2017-04-01

    Wildfires in southern Europe have been causing in the last decades extensive economic and ecological losses and, even human casualties (e.g. Pereira et al., 2011). According to statistics provided by the EC-JRC European Forest Fires Information System (EFFIS) for Europe, the years of 2003 and 2007 represent the most dramatic fire seasons since the beginning of the millennium, followed by the years 2005 and 2012. These extreme years registered total annual burned areas for Europe of over 600.000 ha, reaching 800.000 ha in 2003. Over Iberia and France, the exceptional fire seasons registered in 2003 and 2005 were coincident respectively with one of the most severe heatwaves (Bastos et al., 2014) and droughts of the 20th century (Gouveia et al., 2009). On the other hand, the year 2007 was very peculiar as the area of the Peloponnese was struck by a severe winter drought followed by a subsequent wet spring, being also stricken by three heat heaves during summer and played a major role increasing the susceptibility of the region to wildfires (Gouveia et al., 2016). Some countries have a relatively large fraction of fires caused by natural factors such as lightning, e.g. northwestern USA, Canada, Russia. In contrast, Mediterranean countries such as Portugal has only a small percentage of fire records caused by lightning. Although significant uncertainties remain for the triggering mechanism for the majority of fires registered in the catalog, since they were cataloged without a likely cause. In this work we have used mainly two different databases: 1) the Portuguese Rural Fire Database (PRFD) which is representative of rural fires that have occurred in Continental Portugal, 2002-2009, with the original data provided by the National forestry Authority; 2) lightning discharges location which were extracted from the Portuguese Lightning Location System that has been in service since June of 2002 and is operated by the national weather service - Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). The main objective of this work was to evaluate and quantify the relations between the wildfires' occurrence and the lightning activity. In particularly we were able to verify if wildfires which were identified as "ignited by lightning" by comparing its location to the lightning discharges location database. Furthermore we have also investigated possible fire ignition by lightning discharges that have not yet been labeled in the PRFD by comparing daily data from both datasets. - Bastos A., Gouveia C.M., Trigo R.M., Running S.W., 2014. Biogeosciences, 11, 3421-3435. - Pereira M.G., B.D. Malamud R.M. Trigo, P.I. Alves, 2011. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 3343-3358. - Gouveia C., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C., 2009. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 9, 185-195 - Gouveia C.M., Bistinas I., Liberato M.L.R., Bastos A., Koutsiasd N., Trigo R., 2016. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 218-219, 135-145. Acknowledgements Research performed was supported by FAPESP/FCT Project Brazilian Fire-Land-Atmosphere System (BrFLAS) (1389/2014 and 2015/01389-4). Ana Russo thanks FCT for granted support (SFRH/BPD/99757/2014). A. M. Ramos was also supported by a FCT postdoctoral grant (FCT/DFRH/ SFRH/BPD/84328/2012).

  13. Dietary Potential Renal Acid Load and Risk of Albuminuria and Reduced Kidney Function in the Jackson Heart Study.

    PubMed

    Banerjee, Tanushree; Tucker, Katherine; Griswold, Michael; Wyatt, Sharon B; Harman, Jane; Young, Bessie; Taylor, Herman; Powe, Neil R

    2018-07-01

    Diets high in sulfur-rich protein and low in fruit and vegetables affect human acid-base balance adversely and may have a harmful effect on progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Little is known about the relationship of participant characteristics, dietary acid load (DAL), and kidney injury in African-Americans with high risk of CKD progression. We examined the association of DAL with CKD in 3,257 African-Americans aged >20 years in Jackson Heart Study. DAL was measured with nutrient intakes assessed with a food frequency questionnaire, using a model described by Remer and Manz. We tested associations of participant characteristics with DAL using median regression, and associations of DAL with albuminuria (>17 mg/g for men, >25 mg/g for women), reduced kidney function (eGFR <60 mL/minute/1.73 m 2 ), or CKD defined as albuminuria or reduced kidney function using logistic regression. We further explored whether endothelin and aldosterone production in participants with hypertension mediated risk of albuminuria or reduced kidney function due to the intake of an acid-inducing diet. Younger adults, men, and those with higher body mass index had higher DAL. Higher DAL, compared with lower, was associated with greater odds of reduced kidney function (OR [95% CI]: 2.82 [1.40-4.75]). Higher DAL was also associated with greater risk of CKD, and this persisted after adjustment for confounders. Results were similar in adults with hypertension; the OR [95% CI] for highest, versus lowest, tertile of DAL with albuminuria was 1.66 [1.01-2.59]. Aldosterone and endothelin mediated the association between DAL and albuminuria; the OR [95% CI] in the highest tertile was no longer significant 1.53 [0.97-2.40] after their inclusion. Higher DAL was associated with higher prevalence of CKD and with reduced kidney function. DAL may be an important target for future interventions in African-Americans at high risk of CKD. Copyright © 2018 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. High Dietary Acid Load Predicts ESRD among Adults with CKD

    PubMed Central

    Crews, Deidra C.; Wesson, Donald E.; Tilea, Anca M.; Saran, Rajiv; Ríos-Burrows, Nilka; Williams, Desmond E.; Powe, Neil R.

    2015-01-01

    Small clinical trials have shown that a reduction in dietary acid load (DAL) improves kidney injury and slows kidney function decline; however, the relationship between DAL and risk of ESRD in a population-based cohort with CKD remains unexamined. We examined the association between DAL, quantified by net acid excretion (NAEes), and progression to ESRD in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Among 1486 adults with CKD age≥20 years enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, DAL was determined by 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. The development of ESRD was ascertained over a median 14.2 years of follow-up through linkage with the Medicare ESRD Registry. We used the Fine–Gray competing risks method to estimate the association of high, medium, and low DAL with ESRD after adjusting for demographics, nutritional factors, clinical factors, and kidney function/damage markers and accounting for intervening mortality events. In total, 311 (20.9%) participants developed ESRD. Higher levels of DAL were associated with increased risk of ESRD; relative hazards (95% confidence interval) were 3.04 (1.58 to 5.86) for the highest tertile and 1.81 (0.89 to 3.68) for the middle tertile compared with the lowest tertile in the fully adjusted model. The risk of ESRD associated with DAL tertiles increased as eGFR decreased (P trend=0.001). Among participants with albuminuria, high DAL was strongly associated with ESRD risk (P trend=0.03). In conclusion, high DAL in persons with CKD is independently associated with increased risk of ESRD in a nationally representative population. PMID:25677388

  15. Impact of decreased serum albumin levels on acute kidney injury in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: a potential association of atrial natriuretic peptide.

    PubMed

    Takaya, Yoichi; Yoshihara, Fumiki; Yokoyama, Hiroyuki; Kanzaki, Hideaki; Kitakaze, Masafumi; Goto, Yoichi; Anzai, Toshihisa; Yasuda, Satoshi; Ogawa, Hisao; Kawano, Yuhei; Kangawa, Kenji

    2017-08-01

    Although hypoalbuminemia at admission is a risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), the clinical significance of decreased serum albumin levels (DAL) during ADHF therapy has not been elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate whether DAL was associated with AKI, and whether intravenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) administration, which provides an effective treatment for ADHF but promotes albumin extravasation, was associated with DAL and AKI. A total of 231 consecutive patients with ADHF were enrolled. AKI was defined as ≥0.3 mg/dl absolute or 1.5-fold increase in serum creatinine levels within 48 h. AKI occurred in 73 (32%) of the 231 patients during ADHF therapy. The median value of decreases in serum albumin levels was 0.3 g/dl at 7 days after admission. When DAL was defined as ≥0.3 g/dl decrease in serum albumin levels, DAL occurred in 113 patients, and was independently associated with AKI. Of the 231 patients, 73 (32%) were treated with intravenous ANP. DAL occurred more frequently in patients receiving ANP than in those not receiving ANP (77 vs. 36%, p < 0.001), and ANP was independently associated with DAL. The incidence of AKI was higher in patients receiving ANP than in those not receiving ANP (48 vs. 24%, p < 0.001). ANP was independently associated with AKI. In conclusion, DAL is associated with AKI. Intravenous ANP administration may be one of the promoting factors of DAL, which leads to AKI, indicating a possible novel mechanism of AKI.

  16. Conifer reproductive development involves B-type MADS-box genes with distinct and different activities in male organ primordia.

    PubMed

    Sundström, Jens; Engström, Peter

    2002-07-01

    The Norway spruce MADS-box genes DAL11, DAL12 and DAL13 are phylogenetically related to the angiosperm B-function MADS-box genes: genes that act together with A-function genes in specifying petal identity and with C-function genes in specifying stamen identity to floral organs. In this report we present evidence to suggest that the B-gene function in the specification of identity of the pollen-bearing organs has been conserved between conifers and angiosperms. Expression of DAL11 or DAL12 in transgenic Arabidopsis causes phenotypic changes which partly resemble those caused by ectopic expression of the endogenous B-genes. In similar experiments, flowers of Arabidopsis plants expressing DAL13 showed a different homeotic change in that they formed ectopic anthers in whorls one, two or four. We also demonstrate the capacity of the spruce gene products to form homodimers, and that DAL11 and DAL13 may form heterodimers with each other and with the Arabidopsis B-protein AP3, but not with PI, the second B-gene product in Arabidopsis. In situ hybridization experiments show that the conifer B-like genes are expressed specifically in developing pollen cones, but differ in both temporal and spatial distribution patterns. These results suggest that the B-function in conifers is dual and is separated into a meristem identity and an organ identity function, the latter function possibly being independent of an interaction with the C-function. Thus, even though an ancestral B-function may have acted in combination with C to specify micro- and megasporangia, the B-function has evolved differently in conifers and angiosperms.

  17. Iron Fortification of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) to Address Iron Deficiency.

    PubMed

    Podder, Rajib; Tar'an, Bunyamin; Tyler, Robert T; Henry, Carol J; DellaValle, Diane M; Vandenberg, Albert

    2017-08-11

    Iron (Fe) deficiency is a major human health concern in areas of the world in which diets are often Fe deficient. In the current study, we aimed to identify appropriate methods and optimal dosage for Fe fortification of lentil ( Lens culinaris Medik.) dal with FeSO₄·7H₂O (ferrous sulphate hepta-hydrate), NaFeEDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (III) sodium salt) and FeSO₄·H₂O (ferrous sulphate mono-hydrate). We used a colorimetric method to determine the appearance of the dal fortified with fortificants at different Fe concentrations and under different storage conditions. Relative Fe bioavailability was assessed using an in vitro cell culture bioassay. We found that NaFeEDTA was the most suitable fortificant for red lentil dal, and at 1600 ppm, NaFeEDTA provides 13-14 mg of additional Fe per 100 g of dal. Lentil dal sprayed with fortificant solutions, followed by shaking and drying at 75 °C, performed best with respect to drying time and color change. Total Fe and phytic acid concentrations differed significantly between cooked unfortified and fortified lentil, ranging from 68.7 to 238.5 ppm and 7.2 to 8.0 mg g -1 , respectively. The relative Fe bioavailability of cooked fortified lentil was increased by 32.2-36.6% compared to unfortified cooked lentil. We conclude that fortification of lentil dal is effective and could provide significant health benefits to dal-consuming populations vulnerable to Fe deficiency.

  18. Iron Fortification of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) to Address Iron Deficiency

    PubMed Central

    Podder, Rajib; Tar’an, Bunyamin; Tyler, Robert T.; Henry, Carol J.; Vandenberg, Albert

    2017-01-01

    Iron (Fe) deficiency is a major human health concern in areas of the world in which diets are often Fe deficient. In the current study, we aimed to identify appropriate methods and optimal dosage for Fe fortification of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) dal with FeSO4·7H2O (ferrous sulphate hepta-hydrate), NaFeEDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (III) sodium salt) and FeSO4·H2O (ferrous sulphate mono-hydrate). We used a colorimetric method to determine the appearance of the dal fortified with fortificants at different Fe concentrations and under different storage conditions. Relative Fe bioavailability was assessed using an in vitro cell culture bioassay. We found that NaFeEDTA was the most suitable fortificant for red lentil dal, and at 1600 ppm, NaFeEDTA provides 13–14 mg of additional Fe per 100 g of dal. Lentil dal sprayed with fortificant solutions, followed by shaking and drying at 75 °C, performed best with respect to drying time and color change. Total Fe and phytic acid concentrations differed significantly between cooked unfortified and fortified lentil, ranging from 68.7 to 238.5 ppm and 7.2 to 8.0 mg g−1, respectively. The relative Fe bioavailability of cooked fortified lentil was increased by 32.2–36.6% compared to unfortified cooked lentil. We conclude that fortification of lentil dal is effective and could provide significant health benefits to dal-consuming populations vulnerable to Fe deficiency. PMID:28800117

  19. Drought impact on vegetation in pre and post fire events in Iberian Peninsula

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouveia, C. M.; Bastos, A.; Trigo, R. M.; DaCamara, C.

    2012-04-01

    In 2004/2005, the Iberian Peninsula was stricken by an exceptional drought that affected more than one third of Portugal and part of southern Spain during more than 9 months. This severe drought had a strong negative impact on vegetation dynamics, as it coincided with the period of high photosynthetic activity (Gouveia et al., 2009). Since water availability is a crucial factor in post-fire vegetation recovery, it is desirable to assess the impact that such water-stress conditions had on fire sensitivity and post-fire vegetation recovery. Fire events in the European Mediterranean areas have become a serious problem and a major ecosystem disturbance, increasing erosion and soil degradation. In Portugal, the years 2003 and 2005 were particularly devastating. In 2003 it was registered the maximal burnt area since 1980, with more than 425000 ha burned, representing about 5% of Portuguese mainland. The 2005 fire season registered the highest number of fire occurrences in Portugal and the second year with the greatest number of fires in Spain. The high number of fire events observed during the summer 2005 in the Iberian Peninsula is linked, in part, to the extreme drought conditions that prevailed during the preceding winter and spring seasons of 2004/2005. Vegetation recovery after the 2003 and 2005 fire seasons was estimated using the mono-parametric model developed by Gouveia et al. (2010), which relies on monthly values of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), from 1999 to 2009, at 1kmresolution, as obtained from the VEGETATION-SPOT5 instrument.. This model was further used to evaluate the effect of drought in pre and post vegetation activity. Besides the standard NDVI, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and the Normalized Difference Drought Index (NDDI) were computed in order to evaluate drought intensity. In the case of the burnt scars of 2003, when data corresponding to the months of drought are removed, recovery times are considerably shorter. The extreme water stress conditions to which vegetation is subject during drought events appear, therefore, to delay the regeneration process, which is to be expected since water availability is determinant to primary productivity. On the other hand, in the case of 2005 burnt areas, vegetation is more stressed and dryer in summer than in spring and, in general, fire damage is higher for pixels with higher vegetation density and higher moisture content during the months before the fire. These relationships are also related with the distinct vegetation behavior of the different land covers: in general, shrubland holds less quantity of very dry biomass, while needle leaf presents higher amounts of fairly dry biomass. Gouveia C., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C (2009) "Drought and Vegetation Stress Monitoring in Portugal using Satellite Data". Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 9, 1-11 Gouveia C., DaCamara C.C, Trigo R.M. (2010). "Post-fire vegetation dynamics in Portugal". Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 10, 4, 673-684.

  20. Drinking to Thirst Versus Drinking Ad Libitum During Road Cycling

    PubMed Central

    Armstrong, Lawrence E.; Johnson, Evan C.; Kunces, Laura J.; Ganio, Matthew S.; Judelson, Daniel A.; Kupchak, Brian R.; Vingren, Jakob L.; Munoz, Colleen X.; Huggins, Robert A.; Hydren, Jay R.; Moyen, Nicole E.; Williamson, Keith H.

    2014-01-01

    Context: The sensation of thirst is different from the complex behavior of drinking ad libitum. Rehydration recommendations to athletes differ, depending on the source, yet no previous researchers have systematically compared drinking to thirst (DTT) versus ad libitum drinking behavior (DAL). Objective: To compare 2 groups of trained cyclists (DTT and DAL) who had similar physical characteristics and training programs (P > .05). The DTT group (n = 12, age = 47 ± 7 years) drank only when thirsty, whereas the DAL group (n = 12, age = 44 ± 7 years) consumed fluid ad libitum (ie, whenever and in whatever volume desired). Design: Cohort study. Setting: Road cycling (164 km) in the heat (36.1°C ± 6.5°C). Patients or Other Participants: Ultraendurance cyclists (4 women, 20 men). Intervention(s): We recorded measurements 1 day before the event, on event day before the start, at 3 roadside aid stations, at the finish line, and 1 day after the event. Main Outcome Measure(s): Body mass, urinary hydration indices, and food and fluids consumed. Results: No between-groups differences were seen on event day for total exercise time (DTT = 6.69 ± 0.89 hours, DAL = 6.66 ± 0.77 hours), urinary indices (specific gravity, color), body mass change (DTT = −2.22% ± 1.73%, DAL = −2.29% ± 1.62%), fluid intake (DTT = 5.63 ± 2.59 L/6.7 h, DAL = 6.04 ± 2.37 L/6.7 h), dietary energy intake, macronutrient intake, ratings of thirst (DTT start = 2 ± 1, DTT finish = 6 ± 1, DAL start = 2 ± 1, DAL finish = 6 ± 1), pain, perceived exertion, or thermal sensation. Total fluid intake on recovery day +1 was the primary significant difference (DAL = 5.13 ± 1.87 L/24 h, DTT = 3.13 ± 1.53 L/24 h, t18 = 2.59, P = .02). Conclusions: Observations on event day indicated that drinking to thirst and drinking ad libitum resulted in similar physiologic and perceptual outcomes. This suggests that specific instructions to “drink to thirst” were unnecessary. Indeed, if athletes drink ad libitum, they can focus on training and competition rather than being distracted by ongoing evaluation of thirst sensations. PMID:25098657

  1. e!DAL - a framework to store, share and publish research data

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background The life-science community faces a major challenge in handling “big data”, highlighting the need for high quality infrastructures capable of sharing and publishing research data. Data preservation, analysis, and publication are the three pillars in the “big data life cycle”. The infrastructures currently available for managing and publishing data are often designed to meet domain-specific or project-specific requirements, resulting in the repeated development of proprietary solutions and lower quality data publication and preservation overall. Results e!DAL is a lightweight software framework for publishing and sharing research data. Its main features are version tracking, metadata management, information retrieval, registration of persistent identifiers (DOI), an embedded HTTP(S) server for public data access, access as a network file system, and a scalable storage backend. e!DAL is available as an API for local non-shared storage and as a remote API featuring distributed applications. It can be deployed “out-of-the-box” as an on-site repository. Conclusions e!DAL was developed based on experiences coming from decades of research data management at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK). Initially developed as a data publication and documentation infrastructure for the IPK’s role as a data center in the DataCite consortium, e!DAL has grown towards being a general data archiving and publication infrastructure. The e!DAL software has been deployed into the Maven Central Repository. Documentation and Software are also available at: http://edal.ipk-gatersleben.de. PMID:24958009

  2. e!DAL--a framework to store, share and publish research data.

    PubMed

    Arend, Daniel; Lange, Matthias; Chen, Jinbo; Colmsee, Christian; Flemming, Steffen; Hecht, Denny; Scholz, Uwe

    2014-06-24

    The life-science community faces a major challenge in handling "big data", highlighting the need for high quality infrastructures capable of sharing and publishing research data. Data preservation, analysis, and publication are the three pillars in the "big data life cycle". The infrastructures currently available for managing and publishing data are often designed to meet domain-specific or project-specific requirements, resulting in the repeated development of proprietary solutions and lower quality data publication and preservation overall. e!DAL is a lightweight software framework for publishing and sharing research data. Its main features are version tracking, metadata management, information retrieval, registration of persistent identifiers (DOI), an embedded HTTP(S) server for public data access, access as a network file system, and a scalable storage backend. e!DAL is available as an API for local non-shared storage and as a remote API featuring distributed applications. It can be deployed "out-of-the-box" as an on-site repository. e!DAL was developed based on experiences coming from decades of research data management at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK). Initially developed as a data publication and documentation infrastructure for the IPK's role as a data center in the DataCite consortium, e!DAL has grown towards being a general data archiving and publication infrastructure. The e!DAL software has been deployed into the Maven Central Repository. Documentation and Software are also available at: http://edal.ipk-gatersleben.de.

  3. Dietary intake and main sources of plant lignans in five European countries

    PubMed Central

    Tetens, Inge; Turrini, Aida; Tapanainen, Heli; Christensen, Tue; Lampe, Johanna W.; Fagt, Sisse; Håkansson, Niclas; Lundquist, Annamari; Hallund, Jesper; Valsta, Liisa M.

    2013-01-01

    Background Dietary intakes of plant lignans have been hypothesized to be inversely associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer. Earlier studies were based on a Finnish lignan database (Fineli®) with two lignan precursors, secoisolariciresinol (SECO) and matairesinol (MAT). More recently, a Dutch database, including SECO and MAT and the newly recognized lignan precursors lariciresinol (LARI) and pinoresinol (PINO), was compiled. The objective was to re-estimate and re-evaluate plant lignan intakes and to identify the main sources of plant lignans in five European countries using the Finnish and Dutch lignan databases, respectively. Methods Forty-two food groups known to contribute to the total lignan intake were selected and attributed a value for SECO and MAT from the Finnish lignan database (Fineli®) or for SECO, MAT, LARI, and PINO from the Dutch database. Total intake of lignans was estimated from food consumption data for adult men and women (19–79 years) from Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the contribution of aggregated food groups calculated using the Dutch lignin database. Results Mean dietary lignan intakes estimated using the Dutch database ranged from 1 to 2 mg/day, which was approximately four-fold higher than the intakes estimated from the Fineli® database. When LARI and PINO were included in the estimation of the total lignan intakes, cereals, grain products, vegetables, fruit and berries were the most important dietary sources of lignans. Conclusion Total lignin intake was approximately four-fold higher in the Dutch lignin database, which includes the lignin precursors LARI and PINO, compared to estimates based on the Finnish database based only on SECO and MAT. The main sources of lignans according to the Dutch database in the five countries studied were cereals and grain products, vegetables, fruit, berries, and beverages. PMID:23766759

  4. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    During Senator Doug Jones (D-Al.) tour of MSFC facilities Marshall engineer Bob Zeek explains the High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program to Senator Jones and his wife, Louise.

  5. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    Senator Doug Jones (D-Al.) and wife Louise tour the Payload Crew Training Complex (PCTC) at Marshall Space Flight Center. The PCTC simulates International Space Station habitat modules and is interactive for different activities.

  6. Refined δ13C trend of the Dal'nyaya Taiga series of the Ura uplift (Vendian, southern part of Middle Siberia)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rud'ko, S. V.; Petrov, P. Yu.; Kuznetsov, A. B.; Shatsillo, A. V.; Petrov, O. L.

    2017-12-01

    New data were obtained on δ13Ccarb and δ18O variations in the sequence of deposits of the Dal'nyaya Taiga series at the western and eastern flanks of the Ura anticline. The summary δ13C curve was plotted in view of the correlation of sequence-stratigraphic data of the basin analysis. A series of positive anomalies was found within the succession. Alternatives for global chemostratigraphic correlation of the Dal'nyaya Taiga series of the Ura uplift were considered.

  7. A unique cell-surface protein phenotype distinguishes human small-cell from non-small-cell lung cancer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Baylin, S.B.; Gazdar, A.F.; Minna, J.D.

    1982-08-01

    Radioiodination (/sup 125/I) and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to determine that small-(oat) cell lung carcinoma (SCC)-a tumor with neuroedocrine features-possesses a surface protein pattern distinct from the other types of lung cancer cells (squamous, adeno-, and large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma). Twelve distinguishing proteins, 40 to 70 kilodaltons (kDal), characterized four separate lines of SCC; three of these, designated E (60 kDal; pI = 7.3), S (30 kDal; pI = 6.0), and U 57 kDal; pI = 5.6), may be unique SCC gene products and were identified only in (/sup 35/S)methionine labeling of SCC and not in non-SCC or humanmore » fibroblasts. Two lines of adeno-, one of squamous, and one of undifferentiated large-cell lung carcinoma exhibited similar surface protein patterns to one another. Nine distinguishing proteins (40 to 100 kDal) and at least five large proteins (>100 kDal) were unique to these lines. The surface protein phenotypes for SCC and non-SCC were distinct from those for human lymphoblastoid cells and fibroblasts. However, the neuroendocrine features of SCC were further substantiated because 6 of the 12 distinguishing SCC surface proteins, including E and U, were identified on human neuroblastoma cells. The proteins identified should (i) help define differentiation steps for normal and neoplastic bronchial epithelial cells, (ii) prove useful in better classifying lung cancers, and (iii) be instrumental in tracing formation of neuroendocrine cells.« less

  8. Measuring the Performance of Attention Networks with the Dalhousie Computerized Attention Battery (DalCAB): Methodology and Reliability in Healthy Adults.

    PubMed

    Jones, Stephanie A H; Butler, Beverly C; Kintzel, Franziska; Johnson, Anne; Klein, Raymond M; Eskes, Gail A

    2016-01-01

    Attention is an important, multifaceted cognitive domain that has been linked to three distinct, yet interacting, networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control. The measurement of attention and deficits of attention within these networks is critical to the assessment of many neurological and psychiatric conditions in both research and clinical settings. The Dalhousie Computerized Attention Battery (DalCAB) was created to assess attentional functions related to the three attention networks using a range of tasks including: simple reaction time, go/no-go, choice reaction time, dual task, flanker, item and location working memory, and visual search. The current study provides preliminary normative data, test-retest reliability (intraclass correlations) and practice effects in DalCAB performance 24-h after baseline for healthy young adults (n = 96, 18-31 years). Performance on the DalCAB tasks demonstrated Good to Very Good test-retest reliability for mean reaction time, while accuracy and difference measures (e.g., switch costs, interference effects, and working memory load effects) were most reliable for tasks that require more extensive cognitive processing (e.g., choice reaction time, flanker, dual task, and conjunction search). Practice effects were common and pronounced at the 24-h interval. In addition, performance related to specific within-task parameters of the DalCAB sub-tests provides preliminary support for future formal assessment of the convergent validity of our interpretation of the DalCAB as a potential clinical and research assessment tool for measuring aspects of attention related to the alerting, orienting, and executive control networks.

  9. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    Senator Doug Jones (D-AL.) and wife, Louise, tour Marshall Space Flight facilities. Steve Doering, manager, Stages Element, Space Launch System (SLS) program at MSFC, along with Senator and Mrs. Jones, viewed the MSFC campus from the top of test stand 4693.

  10. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    Senator Doug Jones (D-AL.) and wife, Louise, tour Marshall Space Flight facilities. Steve Doering, manager, Stages Element, Space Launch System (SLS) program at MSFC, views the test stand 4693 where key SLS structural elements will be subjected to stress testing simulating space flight.

  11. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    Senator Doug Jones (D-AL.) and wife, Louise, tour Marshall Space Flight facilities. Steve Doering, manager, Stages Element, Space Launch System (SLS) program at MSFC, explains the stages of the SLS rocket with the scale model rocket located in the lobby of building 4200.

  12. Dietary acid load, trabecular bone integrity, and mineral density in an ageing population: the Rotterdam study.

    PubMed

    de Jonge, E A L; Koromani, F; Hofman, A; Uitterlinden, A G; Franco, O H; Rivadeneira, F; Kiefte-de Jong, J C

    2017-08-01

    We studied the relation between a diet that is high in acid-forming nutrients (e.g. proteins) and low in base-forming nutrients (e.g. potassium) and bone structure. We showed a negative relation, which was more prominent if proteins were of animal rather than of vegetable origin and if intake of dietary fibre was high. Studies on dietary acid load (DAL) and fractures have shown inconsistent results. Associations between DAL, bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone integrity might play a role in these inconsistencies and might be influenced by renal function and dietary fibre intake. Therefore, our aim was to study (1) associations of DAL with BMD and with the trabecular bone score (TBS) and (2) the potential influence of renal function and dietary fibre in these associations. Dutch individuals aged 45 years and over (n = 4672) participating in the prospective cohort of the Rotterdam study were included. Based on food frequency questionnaires, three indices of DAL were calculated: the net endogenous acid production (NEAP) and the ratios of vegetable or animal protein and potassium (VegPro/K and AnPro/K). Data on lumbar spinal TBS and BMD were derived from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements. Independent of confounders, NEAP and AnPro/K, but not VegPro/K, were associated with low TBS (standardized β (95%) = -0.04 (-0.07, -0.01) and -0.08 (-0.11, -0.04)) but not with BMD. Associations of AnPro/K and VegPro/K with TBS were non-linear and differently shaped. Unfavourable associations between NEAP, BMD and TBS were mainly present in subgroups with high fibre intake. High NEAP was associated with low TBS. Associations of AnPro/K and VegPro/K and TBS were non-linear and differently shaped. No significant associations of DAL with BMD were observed, nor was there any significant interaction between DAL and renal function. Mainly in participants with high intake of dietary fibre, DAL might be detrimental to bone.

  13. Geophysical expression of elements of the Rio Grande rift in the northeast Tusas Mountains - Preliminary interpretations

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Drenth, Benjamin J.; Turner, Kenzie J.; Thompson, Ren A.; Grauch, V. J.; Cosca, Michael A.; Lee, John

    2011-01-01

    New interpretations of the nature of the Rio Grande rift and pre-existing rocks in the northeast Tusas Mountains region are derived from new and existing gravity and aeromagnetic data. 12-15 mGal amplitude gravity lows are interpreted to mainly reflect large thicknesses of the upper Oligocene to upper Miocene, syn-rift Los Pinos Formation and possibly significant amounts of the Eocene El Rito Formation. The Broke Off Mountain sub basin, named after the location of its greatest inferred depth, is interpreted to be a ~40 km long and ~13 km wide structure elongated in a northwest trend at the western margin of the San Luis Basin. The sub basin is interpreted to contain a maximum combined thickness of 900-2300 m of the Los Pinos Formation and El Rito Formation, with the Los Pinos Formation constituting the majority of the section. Sub basin age is constrained to be older than 21.6 ± 1.4 Ma, the age of a Hinsdale Formation basalt flow that caps the Los Pinos Formation section at Broke Off Mountain. This age constraint and surface geology indicate a pre- and early-rift age. The structural fabric of the northeast Tusas Mountains region is dominated by northwest-trending normal faults, as indicated by geologic mapping and interpretation of aeromagnetic data. Preliminary analysis of the aeromagnetic data suggests that lineaments, possibly reflecting faulting, trend through volcanic rocks as young as Pliocene in age. If correct, these interpretations challenge commonly held beliefs regarding two stages in the structural style of rifting, where early (Oligocene-Miocene) rifting was characterized by broad, shallow basins bounded by northwest-trending faults and later (Miocene-Pliocene) rifting was characterized by deep, narrow basins bounded by north-trending faults. The Broke Off Mountain sub basin is a counter example of a pre- and early-rift, deep and narrow basin. We hypothesize that the Broke Off Mountain sub basin may represent a southward extension of the Monte Vista graben in Colorado, based on similarities in geophysical expression, stratigraphy, and its position at the western portion of the San Luis Basin

  14. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    Senator Doug Jones (D-AL.) and wife, Louise, tour Marshall Space Flight facilities. Steve Doering, manager, Stages Element, Space Launch System (SLS) program at MSFC, also tour the Payload Operations Integration Center (POIC) where Marshall controllers oversee stowage requirements aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as well as scientific experiments.

  15. Dalí's homage to Rothko: a defense against fusion with the victim.

    PubMed

    Hartman, John J

    2008-04-01

    This paper explores the thematic content of a painting by Salvador Dalí in homage to artist Mark Rothko, completed after the latter's suicide. The manifest title of the work suggests respect for Rothko, but the latent intent of the painting, the author suggests, is more of a memoriam to Rothko in a complex identification with him. Among other psychological issues, the author elaborates on two factors that may have played a part in Dalí's artistic reaction to Rothko's suicide: the death of the artist's infant brother nine months before his own birth, and his lifelong struggle against fusion with the victim (Orgel 1974a, 1974b).

  16. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    Senator Doug Jones (D-Al.) and wife Louise are presented an overview of the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) which was developed at Marshall Space flight Center. Marshall engineer Keith Parrish explains the steps in converting waste fluids generated on the International Space Station (ISS) into purified drinking water.

  17. Eighteen-deoxyaldosterone and other less polar forms of 18-hydroxycorticosterone as aldosterone precursors in rat adrenals.

    PubMed

    Cozza, E N; Burton, G; Ceballos, N R; Lantos, C P; Harnik, M; Scott, A I

    1985-05-01

    Samples containing as precursors either 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18-OH-B) in its M form, or this converted to less polar forms at pH 2 (ACM), or M or ACM enclosed in liposomes from adrenal lipids were incubated at pH 7.4, 4.8 or 3.3 in the presence or absence of quartered rat adrenals for 1 and 2 h. Optimal (10%) yields of aldosterone were obtained when (a) ACM was incubated at pH 4.8 and (b) M enclosed in liposomes was suspended in buffer and shaken without enzyme at pH 3.3. When conditions (a) were supplemented with malate and NADP, 16% of ACM was converted to aldosterone. ACM contained 80% of a fraction which, according to 13C NMR spectroscopy, was identical to 18-deoxyaldosterone (18-DAL). Experiments in which radioactivity from corticosterone (B) or M was trapped by radioinert M or 18-DAL disclosed a pathway comprising sequentially B, 18-OH-B, 18-DAL and aldosterone, and the combined evidence of this work, an enzymatic hydroxylation of 18-DAL to aldosterone.

  18. Dog erythrocyte antigens 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 7, and Dal blood typing and cross-matching by gel column technique.

    PubMed

    Kessler, Rebecca J; Reese, Jessica; Chang, Denise; Seth, Mayank; Hale, Anne S; Giger, Urs

    2010-09-01

    Testing for canine blood types other than dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 (DEA 1.1) is controversial and complicated by reagent availability and methodology. The objectives of this study were to use available gel column technology to develop an extended blood-typing method using polyclonal reagents for DEA 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 7, and Dal and to assess the use of gel columns for cross-matching. Dogs (43-75) were typed for DEA 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 7, and Dal. METHODS included tube agglutination (Tube) using polyclonal reagents, a commercially available DEA 1.1 gel column test kit (Standard-Gel) using monoclonal reagent, and multiple gel columns (Extended-Gel) using polyclonal reagents. Blood from 10 recipient and 15 donor dogs was typed as described above and cross-matched using the gel column technique. Of 43 dogs typed for DEA 1.1, 23, 25, and 20 dogs were positive using Standard-Gel, Extended-Gel, and Tube, respectively. Typing for DEA 1.2 was not achievable with Extended-Gel. For 75 dogs typed for DEA 3, 4, and 7, concordance of Extended-Gel with Tube was 94.7%, 100%, and 84%, respectively. Dal, determined only by Extended-Gel, was positive for all dogs. Post-transfusion major cross-matches were incompatible in 10 of 14 pairings, but none were associated with demonstrable blood type incompatibilities. Gel column methodology can be adapted for use with polyclonal reagents for detecting DEA 1.1, 3, 4, 7, and Dal. Agglutination reactions are similar between Extended-Gel and Tube, but are more easily interpreted with Extended-Gel. When using gel columns for cross-matching, incompatible blood cross-matches can be detected following sensitization by transfusion, although in this study incompatibilities associated with any tested DEA or Dal antigens were not found. ©2010 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

  19. Optical and electrical observations of an abnormal triggered lightning event with two upward propagations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Dong; Zhang, Yijun; Lu, Weitao; Zhang, Yang; Dong, Wansheng; Chen, Shaodong; Dan, Jianru

    2012-08-01

    This study investigates an abnormal artificially triggered lightning event that produced two positive upward propagations: one during the initial stage (i.e., the upward leader (UL)) and the other after a negative downward aborted leader (DAL). The triggered lightning was induced in a weak thunderstorm over the experiment site and did not produce a return stroke. All of the intra-cloud lightning around the experiment site produced positive changes in the electric field. The initial stage was a weak discharge process. A downward dart leader propagated along the channel produced by the first UL, ending at a height of approximately 453 m and forming a DAL. Under the influence of the DAL, the electric field at a point located 78 m from the rod experienced a steady reduction of about 6.8 kV m-1 over 5.24 ms prior to the initiation of a new upward channel (i.e., the second upward propagation (UP)). The second UP, which started approximately 4.1 ms after the termination of the DAL and propagated along the original channel, was triggered by the DAL and sustained for approximately 2.95 ms. Two distinct current pulses were superimposed on the current of the second UP. The first pulse, which was related to the sudden initiation of the second UP, was characterized by a more rapid increase and decrease and a larger peak value than the second pulse, which was related to the development of the second UP into the area affected by the DAL. The second UP contained both a similar-to-leader process and a following neutralization process. This study introduces a new type of triggering leader, in which a new upward discharge is triggered in an established channel by an aborted leader propagating along the same channel with opposite polarity and propagation direction.

  20. 13 CFR 120.315 - Interest rate and loan limit.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 13 Business Credit and Assistance 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Interest rate and loan limit. 120... Special Purpose Loans Disabled Assistance Loan Program (dal) § 120.315 Interest rate and loan limit. The interest rate on direct DAL loans is three percent. There is an administrative limit of $150,000 on a...

  1. Task-Oriented Access to Data Files: An Evaluation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Watters, Carolyn; And Others

    1994-01-01

    Discussion of information retrieval highlights DalText, a prototype information retrieval system that provides access to nonindexed textual data files where the mode of access is determined by the user based on the task at hand. A user study is described that was conducted at Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia) to test DalText. (Contains 23…

  2. Nonautonomous discrete bright soliton solutions and interaction management for the Ablowitz-Ladik equation.

    PubMed

    Yu, Fajun

    2015-03-01

    We present the nonautonomous discrete bright soliton solutions and their interactions in the discrete Ablowitz-Ladik (DAL) equation with variable coefficients, which possesses complicated wave propagation in time and differs from the usual bright soliton waves. The differential-difference similarity transformation allows us to relate the discrete bright soliton solutions of the inhomogeneous DAL equation to the solutions of the homogeneous DAL equation. Propagation and interaction behaviors of the nonautonomous discrete solitons are analyzed through the one- and two-soliton solutions. We study the discrete snaking behaviors, parabolic behaviors, and interaction behaviors of the discrete solitons. In addition, the interaction management with free functions and dynamic behaviors of these solutions is investigated analytically, which have certain applications in electrical and optical systems.

  3. Taxonomic status and biology of the Cuban blackhawk, Buteogallus anthracinus gundlachii (AVES: Accipitridae)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Wiley, J.W.; Garrido, O.H.

    2005-01-01

    We reevaluate the taxonomic status of the Cuban population of the Common Black-Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) based on our examination of additional specimens, nests, eggs, and voice data. Buteogallus a. gundlachii is smaller than mainland populations of anthracinus and differs from mainland birds in plumage coloration and pattern. The common (alarm) call of gundlachii is a series of three or four notes, differing from that of mainland anthracinus, whose call consists of 9-24 notes. In the Isla de Pinos, Cuba, we observed gundlachii eating two species of land crabs (71.4%), centipedes (7.1%), lizards (10.7%), mammals (7.1%), and a bird (3.6%). We consider Buteogallus gundlachii Cabanis 1854 (1855), the Cuban Black-Hawk, to be a full species, endemic to Cuba, Isla de Pinos, and many of the cays of the Cuban Archipelago. ?? 2005 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc.

  4. Impact of an interactive anti-speeding threat appeal: how much threat is too much?

    PubMed

    Panić, Katarina; Cauberghe, Verolien; De Pelsmacker, Patrick

    2011-05-01

    This study investigates the impact of an interactive television public-service announcement (PSA) containing an anti-speeding threat appeal on feelings of telepresence and behavioral intention. In a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design with 213 participants, the level of threat evoked by a traditional PSA, by the interactive part of the PSA (dedicated advertising location or DAL) and by the preceding program context are manipulated to be either low or high. The results support the assumptions of the Extended Parallel Processing Model with regard to the effect of the level of perceived threat and perceived efficacy in an interactive media environment, and the important role of telepresence as a processing variable. The results of the three-way interaction effect of threat evoked by the program, the PSA and the DAL on telepresence show that when the threat levels of the program and the PSA are both either low or high, exposure to the threatening information in the DAL does not generate a significantly higher feeling of telepresence. However, when a low-threat program is followed by a high-threat PSA, the threat level of the DAL has a positive effect on telepresence. The same trend is found with a high-threat program and a low-threat PSA, although the effect of the threat evoked by the DAL on telepresence is not significant at conventional levels. Finally, there is a positive effect of telepresence on the behavioral intention to reduce speeding, which is partly mediated by the viewer's perceived efficacy to follow the recommended behavior.

  5. Draft Genome Sequence of Methanohalophilus mahii Strain DAL1 Reconstructed from a Hydraulic Fracturing-Produced Water Metagenome

    PubMed Central

    Lipus, Daniel; Vikram, Amit

    2016-01-01

    We report here the 1,882,100-bp draft genome sequence of Methanohalophilus mahii strain DAL1, recovered from Marcellus Shale hydraulic fracturing-produced water using metagenomic contig binning. Genome annotation revealed several key methanogenesis genes and provides valuable information on archaeal activity associated with hydraulic fracturing-produced water environments. PMID:27587817

  6. Imaging of Subacute Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption After Methadone Overdose

    PubMed Central

    Huisa, Branko N.; Gasparovic, Charles; Taheri, Saeid; Prestopnik, Jillian L.; Rosenberg, Gary A.

    2014-01-01

    BACKGROUND Methadone intoxication can cause respiratory depression, leading to hypoxia with subsequent coma and death. Delayed postanoxic leukoencephalopathy (DAL) has been reported with intoxication by carbon monoxide, narcotics, and other toxins. OBJECTIVE To investigate the metabolic derangement of the white matter (WM) and blood–brain barrier (BBB) after DAL caused by methadone overdose. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Case report of 2 patients with DAL after a single dose of “diverted” methadone used for pain control. RESULTS In both cases brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed initial extensive bilateral restricted diffusion lesions within the WM. Follow-up MRI using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) showed markedly lower N-acetylaspartate and higher choline within the WM. BBB permeability, calculated by Patlak graphical analysis of MRI T1 data obtained after contrast agent injection, showed disruption of the BBB within the WM lesions, which persisted longer than a year in 1 patient. Neuropsychological evaluation showed executive dysfunction in both patients. After 1 year, one patient recovered whereas the second remained impaired. CONCLUSIONS Methadone overdose can cause DAL with profound disturbances of neural metabolism and the BBB. The time course of these disturbances can be monitored with MR methods. PMID:22211853

  7. Imaging of subacute blood-brain barrier disruption after methadone overdose.

    PubMed

    Huisa, Branko N; Gasparovic, Charles; Taheri, Saeid; Prestopnik, Jillian L; Rosenberg, Gary A

    2013-07-01

    Methadone intoxication can cause respiratory depression, leading to hypoxia with subsequent coma and death. Delayed postanoxic leukoencephalopathy (DAL) has been reported with intoxication by carbon monoxide, narcotics, and other toxins. To investigate the metabolic derangement of the white matter (WM) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) after DAL caused by methadone overdose. Case report of 2 patients with DAL after a single dose of "diverted" methadone used for pain control. In both cases brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed initial extensive bilateral restricted diffusion lesions within the WM. Follow-up MRI using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((1) H-MRSI) showed markedly lower N-acetylaspartate and higher choline within the WM. BBB permeability, calculated by Patlak graphical analysis of MRI T1 data obtained after contrast agent injection, showed disruption of the BBB within the WM lesions, which persisted longer than a year in 1 patient. Neuropsychological evaluation showed executive dysfunction in both patients. After 1 year, one patient recovered whereas the second remained impaired. Methadone overdose can cause DAL with profound disturbances of neural metabolism and the BBB. The time course of these disturbances can be monitored with MR methods. Copyright © 2011 by the American Society of Neuroimaging.

  8. Does Land Degradation Increase Poverty in Developing Countries?

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Land degradation is a global problem that particularly impacts the poor rural inhabitants of low and middle-income countries. We improve upon existing literature by estimating the extent of rural populations in 2000 and 2010 globally on degrading and improving agricultural land, taking into account the role of market access, and analyzing the resulting impacts on poverty. Using a variety of spatially referenced datasets, we estimate that 1.33 billion people worldwide in 2000 were located on degrading agricultural land (DAL), of which 1.26 billion were in developing countries. Almost all the world’s 200 million people on remote DAL were in developing countries, which is about 6% of their rural population. There were also 1.54 billion rural people on improving agricultural land (IAL), with 1.34 billion in developing countries. We find that a lower share of people in 2000 on DAL, or a higher share on IAL, lowers significantly how much overall economic growth reduces poverty from 2000 to 2012 across 83 developing countries. As the population on DAL and IAL in developing countries grew by 13% and 15% respectively from 2000 to 2010, these changing spatial distributions of rural populations could impact significantly future poverty in developing countries. PMID:27167738

  9. 40 CFR 721.6900 - Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal ether, substituted al-kenes, and but-a-diene.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.6900 Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substances identified generically as polymer of bisphenol A...

  10. 40 CFR 721.6900 - Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal ether, substituted al-kenes, and but-a-diene.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.6900 Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substances identified generically as polymer of bisphenol A...

  11. Draft Genome Sequence of Methanohalophilus mahii Strain DAL1 Reconstructed from a Hydraulic Fracturing-Produced Water Metagenome.

    PubMed

    Lipus, Daniel; Vikram, Amit; Ross, Daniel E; Bibby, Kyle

    2016-09-01

    We report here the 1,882,100-bp draft genome sequence of Methanohalophilus mahii strain DAL1, recovered from Marcellus Shale hydraulic fracturing-produced water using metagenomic contig binning. Genome annotation revealed several key methanogenesis genes and provides valuable information on archaeal activity associated with hydraulic fracturing-produced water environments. Copyright © 2016 Lipus et al.

  12. 40 CFR 721.6900 - Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal ether, substituted al-kenes, and but-a-diene.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.6900 Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substances identified generically as polymer of bisphenol A...

  13. 40 CFR 721.6900 - Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal ether, substituted al-kenes, and but-a-diene.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.6900 Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substances identified generically as polymer of bisphenol A...

  14. 40 CFR 721.6900 - Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal ether, substituted al-kenes, and but-a-diene.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i-dal... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.6900 Polymer of bisphenol A di-glyc-i... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substances identified generically as polymer of bisphenol A...

  15. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) Tour of MSFC Facilities

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2018-02-22

    Senator Doug Jones (D-AL.) and wife, Louise, tour Marshall Space Flight facilities. Steve Doering, manager, Stages Element, Space Launch System (SLS) program at MSFC, also tour the Payload Operations Integration Center (POIC) where Marshall controllers oversee stowage requirements aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as well as scientific experiments. Different positions in the room are explained to Senator Jones by MSFC controller Beau Simpson.

  16. NPDES Draft Permit for Southern Ute Indian Tribe Wastewater Treatment Facility in Colorado

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Under NPDES draft permit number CO-0022853, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is authorized to discharge from its wastewater treatment facility in La Plata County, Colorado,to Rock Creek, a tributary of the Los Pinos River.

  17. 78 FR 68019 - Performance Review Board Appointments

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-13

    ....; Chasteen, G. Taylor; Christian, Lisa A.; Clanton, Michael W.; Coffee, Richard; Cook, Cheryl L.; Davenport....; Paul, Matt; Pfaeffle, Frederick; Pino, Lisa; Repass, Todd; Robinson, Quinton; Romero, Ramona; Ruiz..., Lisa; Wright, Ann; Young, Benjamin; Young, Mike; Zehren, Christopher J. Marketing and Regulatory...

  18. Hardening Logic Encryption against Key Extraction Attacks with Circuit Camouflage

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-03-01

    camouflage; obfuscation; SAT; key extraction; reverse engineering; security; trusted electronics Introduction Integrated Circuit (IC) designs are...Encryption Algorithms”, Hardware Oriented Security and Trust , 2015. 3. Rajendran J., Pino, Y., Sinanoglu, O., Karri, R., “Security Analysis of Logic

  19. Rationale and design of dal-PLAQUE: A study assessing efficacy and safety of dalcetrapib on progression or regression of atherosclerosis using magnetic resonance imaging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography

    PubMed Central

    Fayad, Zahi A.; Mani, Venkatesh; Woodward, Mark; Kallend, David; Bansilal, Sameer; Pozza, Joseph; Burgess, Tracy; Fuster, Valentin; Rudd, James H. F.; Tawakol, Ahmed; Farkouh, Michael E.

    2014-01-01

    dal-PLAQUE is a placebo-controlled multicenter study designed to assess the effect of dalcetrapib on imaging measures of plaque inflammation and plaque burden. dal-PLAQUE is a multimodality imaging study in the context of the large dal-HEART Program. Decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Dalcetrapib, a compound that increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by modulating cholesteryl ester transfer protein, is being studied to assess if it can reduce the progression of atherosclerotic disease and thereby decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Patients with CHD or CHD-risk equivalents were randomized to receive 600 mg dalcetrapib or placebo daily for 24 months, in addition to conventional lipid-lowering medication and other medications for cardiovascular risk factors. The primary outcomes are the effect of dalcetrapib on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography target-to-background ratio after 6 months and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plaque burden (wall area, wall thickness, total vessel area, and wall area/total vessel area ratio) after 12 months. Secondary objectives include positron emission tomography target-to-background ratio at 3 months and MRI plaque burden at 6 and 24 months; plaque composition at 6, 12, and 24 months; and aortic compliance at 6 months. A tertiary objective is to examine the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters of plaque neovascularization. In total, 189 subjects entered screening, and 130 were randomized. dal-PLAQUE will provide important information on the effects of dalcetrapib on markers of inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque burden and, thereby, on the safety of cholesteryl ester transfer protein modulation with dalcetrapib. Results are expected in 2011. PMID:21835280

  20. Geomorphology and anthropogenic impact including military constraints in a microtidal wave-dominated embayment in south western Sardinia (Porto Pino beach, SCI ITB040025, Mediterranean Sea). Implications for beach management.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    De Muro, Sandro; Buosi, Carla; Pusceddu, Nicola; Frongia, Paolo; Passarella, Marinella; Ibba, Angelo

    2016-04-01

    The coastal zones of the Mediterranean have undergone increasing pressure over the last century. The intensifying coastal development and the increasing tourist impact have led to an intense transformation of the coastlines and adjacent marine areas. The beach and the coastal dune play an important role in protecting the coastline. Thus, the study of its geomorphological evolution and of its anthropic modification is fundamental in order to adopt the best management practices. In this regard, the LIFE Project (LIFE13NAT/IT/001013) SOSS DUNES (Safeguard and management Of South-western Sardinian Dunes) aims to safeguard the dune habitats and the beach system in a site belonging to the Natura 2000 network, an EUwide network of nature protection areas established under the 1992 Habitats Directive. This project is focused on a microtidal wave-dominated embayment located in south western Sardinia (Italy, Mediterranean Sea) called Porto Pino beach comprised in the SCI (Site of Community Importance) "Promontory, dunes and wetland of Porto Pino (ITB040025)". This research aims to investigate the geomorphological processes, the evolution and the main human impacts on Porto Pino beach as an useful tool for both conservation and coastal management. The coastal area of Porto Pino is represented by sandy shorelines extending for a total length of 5 km characterized by a wide primary and secondary dune systems, a backshore wetland lagoon and marsh area arranged parallel to the coastline. This littoral area can be ideally divided into three parts: the first, about 600 m long, in the north-west part characterized by the highest human pressure due to touristic activity on the foredunes and deposition of beach wrack; the second part in the south-east, about 1100 m long, characterized by a complex dune system (primary and secondary foredunes); and the third southernmost part included in a military area, about 3300 m long, characterized by transgressive dune system with low human impact. The coastal dunes vulnerability status of this three parts was assessed using the Dune Vulnerability Index (DVI) based on 57 variables that described geomorphological condition, marine influence, aeolian influence, vegetation condition, and human effects. Results reveal the lowest vulnerability value in the area undergone military constraints. Blowouts, breaches in the coastal dune system and deflation areas are observed in the first and second part where there is the greatest human transit to allow users access of the beach. The main pressures and threats identified that determine significant impacts on dune habitats are: transit of vehicles in the dune with the subsequent degradation of vegetation and the triggering of deflation processes; setting of infrastructure on the dune; removal of seagrass banquettes. In particular, the impact of trucks used to remove banquettes is significant on subaerial beach morphology. This traffic flattens the berms, modifies sand permeability and reduces organic sediment input to the shore. This study has allowed to highlight the geomorphological processes, the anthropic pressure and the coastal dune vulnerability of this coastal area in order to mitigate the impacts.

  1. Genetic Mapping of a Mutant Defective in d, l-Alanine Racemase in Bacillus subtilis 168

    PubMed Central

    Dul, Michael J.; Young, Frank E.

    1973-01-01

    Genetic analysis of a d-alanine requiring mutant (dal) of Bacillus subtilis reveals that the gene that codes for d,l-alanine racemase is linked to purB. The order of genes in this region of the chromosome is purB, pig, tsi, dal. Thus there are at least two clusters of genes that regulate cell wall biosynthesis in B. subtilis. PMID:4199510

  2. Celebrating Youth.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Children Today, 1988

    1988-01-01

    Lists the four young people cited as exceptional youth by President Ronald Reagan on September 9, 1988, during Youth 2000 Week. Cited were Andrea Taylor of Kansas City, Missouri, Peggy Lee Rogers of Denver, Colorado, Annette Pino of Pueblo, Colorado, and Ed Lucero, a student at Colorado State University. (SKC)

  3. Lignan enhancement in hairy root cultures of Linum album using coniferaldehyde and methylenedioxycinnamic acid.

    PubMed

    Ahmadian Chashmi, Najmeh; Sharifi, Mohsen; Behmanesh, Mehrdad

    2016-07-03

    Feeding experiments with hairy root cultures of Linum album have established that the extracellular coniferaldehyde is a good precursor for production of two lignans: lariciresinol (LARI) and pinoresinol (PINO). The accumulation of the LARI, PINO, and podophyllotoxin (PTOX) in hairy roots were enhanced about 14.8-, 8.7-, and 1.5-fold (107.61, 8.7 and 6.42 µg g(-1) Fresh Wight), respectively, by the addition of coniferaldehyde (2 mM) to the culture media (after 24 hr). This result was correlated with an increase pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase (PLR) expression gene and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) activity in the fed hairy roots. Adding 3,4-(methylendioxy)cinnamic acid (MDCA) precursor did not influence on the lignans accumulation, but the lignin content of the hairy roots was increased. Moreover, the expression genes of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), CAD, and cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) were influenced after feeding hairy roots with MDCA.

  4. Translations on Telecommunications Policy, Research and Development No. 26

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-01-06

    Revolution, residents of Yerevan and the Ararat Valley received the oppor- tunity to watch Central Television’s fourth program being retransmitted on...PROTEO SYSTEM Milan TELECOMUNICAZIONI in Italian Nos 60-61 Sep-Dec 76 PP 21-34 [Article by Guido Arrigoni, Sergio Dal Monte and Giorgio Magnolfi, of SIT...Boston, June 1975. 8. Arrigoni, G., Di Stefano, G.B., Dal Monte , S., Magnolfi, G. "PROTEO Sys- tem: Field Experience of PROTEO Peripheral

  5. Satellites for distress alerting and locating: Report by Interagency Committee for Search and Rescue Ad Hoc Working Group

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ehrlich, E.

    1976-01-01

    The background behind the congressional legislation that led to the requirement for the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and the Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) to be installed on certain types of aircraft and inspected marine vessels respectively is discussed. The DAL problem is discussed for existing ELT and EPIRB equipped aircraft and ships. It is recognized that the DAL requirement for CONUS and Alaska and the maritime regions are not identical. In order to address the serious DAL problem which currently exists in CONUS and Alaska, a low orbiting satellite system evolves as the most viable and cost effective alternative that satisfies the overall SAR system design requirements. A satellite system designed to meet the needs of the maritime regions could be either low orbiting or geostationary. The conclusions drawn from this report support the recommendation to proceed with the implementation of a SAR orbiting satellite system.

  6. Translations on Telecommunications Policy, Research and Development, Number 26.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-01-06

    Revolution, residents of Yerevan and the Ararat Valley received the oppor- tunity to watch Central Television’s fourth program being retransmitted on...EXCHANGE IN THE PROTEO SYSTEM Milan TELECOMUNICAZIONI in Italian Nos 60-61 Sep-Dec 76 PP 21-34 [Article by Guido Arrigoni, Sergio Dal Monte and...Programs of a Spe- cial Processor," 12th Design Automation Conference, Boston, June 1975. 8. Arrigoni, G., Di Stefano, G.B., Dal Monte , S., Magnolfi

  7. Dual active layer a-IGZO TFT via homogeneous conductive layer formation by photochemical H-doping

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    In this study, InGaZnO (IGZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) with a dual active layer (DAL) structure are fabricated by inserting a homogeneous embedded conductive layer (HECL) in an amorphous IGZO (a-IGZO) channel with the aim of enhancing the electrical characteristics of conventional bottom-gate-structure TFTs. A highly conductive HECL (carrier concentration at 1.6 × 1013 cm-2, resistivity at 4.6 × 10-3 Ω∙cm, and Hall mobility at 14.6 cm2/Vs at room temperature) is fabricated using photochemical H-doping by irradiating UV light on an a-IGZO film. The electrical properties of the fabricated DAL TFTs are evaluated by varying the HECL length. The results reveal that carrier mobility increased proportionally with the HECL length. Further, a DAL TFT with a 60-μm-long HECL embedded in an 80-μm-long channel exhibits comprehensive and outstanding improvements in its electrical properties: a saturation mobility of 60.2 cm2/Vs, threshold voltage of 2.7 V, and subthreshold slope of 0.25 V/decade against the initial values of 19.9 cm2/Vs, 4.7 V, and 0.45 V/decade, respectively, for a TFT without HECL. This result confirms that the photochemically H-doped HECL significantly improves the electrical properties of DAL IGZO TFTs. PMID:25435832

  8. Dual active layer a-IGZO TFT via homogeneous conductive layer formation by photochemical H-doping.

    PubMed

    Jeong, Seung-Ki; Kim, Myeong-Ho; Lee, Sang-Yeon; Seo, Hyungtak; Choi, Duck-Kyun

    2014-01-01

    In this study, InGaZnO (IGZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) with a dual active layer (DAL) structure are fabricated by inserting a homogeneous embedded conductive layer (HECL) in an amorphous IGZO (a-IGZO) channel with the aim of enhancing the electrical characteristics of conventional bottom-gate-structure TFTs. A highly conductive HECL (carrier concentration at 1.6 × 10(13) cm(-2), resistivity at 4.6 × 10(-3) Ω∙cm, and Hall mobility at 14.6 cm(2)/Vs at room temperature) is fabricated using photochemical H-doping by irradiating UV light on an a-IGZO film. The electrical properties of the fabricated DAL TFTs are evaluated by varying the HECL length. The results reveal that carrier mobility increased proportionally with the HECL length. Further, a DAL TFT with a 60-μm-long HECL embedded in an 80-μm-long channel exhibits comprehensive and outstanding improvements in its electrical properties: a saturation mobility of 60.2 cm(2)/Vs, threshold voltage of 2.7 V, and subthreshold slope of 0.25 V/decade against the initial values of 19.9 cm(2)/Vs, 4.7 V, and 0.45 V/decade, respectively, for a TFT without HECL. This result confirms that the photochemically H-doped HECL significantly improves the electrical properties of DAL IGZO TFTs.

  9. 75 FR 52799 - Notice of Public Hearing and Commission Meeting

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-27

    ... certain water resources projects; (2) compliance matters involving three projects; (3) action on a project... the following items: (1) Update on the SRBC Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network; (2) hydrologic..., Susquehanna County, Pa. 3. Project Sponsor: Seneca Resources Corporation. Pad ID: M. Pino H (ABR-20090933...

  10. Geochemical Peculiarities of Galena and Sphalerite from Polymetallic Deposits of the Dal'negorskii Ore Region (Primorsky Krai, Russia)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rogulina, L. I.; Moiseenko, V. G.; Ponomarchuk, V. A.

    2018-04-01

    New data on the composition of the major minerals from the skarn and vein polymetallic deposits of the Dal'negorskii ore region are reported. Analysis of galena and sphalerite was carried out by the X-ray fluorescent energy-dispersive method of synchrotron radiation for the first time. It is shown that the minor elements in major minerals of different deposits are typomorphic. Among these elements are Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd, Ag, Sn, and Sb, as well as In in sphalerite and Te in galena. The high concentrations of Ag, Cu, Te, Cd, and In in the extracted minerals indicate the complex character of mineralization. The compositional patterns of ore minerals characterize the sequence of mineral formation from the skarn to vein ores, and the sequence of deposits from the mesothermal to epithermal conditions. This provides geochemical evidence for the stage model of the formation of mineralization in the Dal'negorskii ore region.

  11. Complex analyses on clinical information systems using restricted natural language querying to resolve time-event dependencies.

    PubMed

    Safari, Leila; Patrick, Jon D

    2018-06-01

    This paper reports on a generic framework to provide clinicians with the ability to conduct complex analyses on elaborate research topics using cascaded queries to resolve internal time-event dependencies in the research questions, as an extension to the proposed Clinical Data Analytics Language (CliniDAL). A cascaded query model is proposed to resolve internal time-event dependencies in the queries which can have up to five levels of criteria starting with a query to define subjects to be admitted into a study, followed by a query to define the time span of the experiment. Three more cascaded queries can be required to define control groups, control variables and output variables which all together simulate a real scientific experiment. According to the complexity of the research questions, the cascaded query model has the flexibility of merging some lower level queries for simple research questions or adding a nested query to each level to compose more complex queries. Three different scenarios (one of them contains two studies) are described and used for evaluation of the proposed solution. CliniDAL's complex analyses solution enables answering complex queries with time-event dependencies at most in a few hours which manually would take many days. An evaluation of results of the research studies based on the comparison between CliniDAL and SQL solutions reveals high usability and efficiency of CliniDAL's solution. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. The DAL10 gene from Norway spruce (Picea abies) belongs to a potentially gymnosperm-specific subclass of MADS-box genes and is specifically active in seed cones and pollen cones.

    PubMed

    Carlsbecker, Annelie; Sundström, Jens; Tandre, Karolina; Englund, Marie; Kvarnheden, Anders; Johanson, Urban; Engström, Peter

    2003-01-01

    Transcription factors encoded by different members of the MADS-box gene family have evolved central roles in the regulation of reproductive organ development in the flowering plants, the angiosperms. Development of the stamens and carpels, the pollen- and seed-bearing organs, involves the B- and C-organ-identity MADS-box genes. B- and C-type gene orthologs with activities specifically in developing pollen- and seed-bearing organs are also present in the distantly related gymnosperms: the conifers and the gnetophytes. We now report on the characterization of DAL10, a novel MADS-box gene from the conifer Norway spruce, which unlike the B- and C-type conifer genes shows no distinct orthology relationship to any angiosperm gene or clade in phylogenetic analyses. Like the B- and C-type genes, it is active specifically in developing pollen cones and seed cones. In situ RNA localization experiments show DAL10 to be expressed in the cone axis, which carry the microsporophylls of the young pollen cone. In contrast, in the seed cone it is expressed both in the cone axis and in the bracts, which subtend the ovuliferous scales. Expression data and the phenotype of transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing DAL10 suggest that the gene may act upstream to or in concert with the B- and C-type genes in the establishment of reproductive identity of developing cones.

  13. Vegetation recovery assessment following large wildfires in the Mediterranean Basin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bastos, A.; Gouveia, C. M.; Trigo, R. M.; DaCamara, C. C.

    2012-04-01

    Mediterranean ecosystems have evolved along with fire, adapting to quick recovering following wildfire events. However, vegetation species respond differently to the changes in fire regimes that have been observed in the past decades in the Mediterranean. These changes, which occurred mainly due to socio-economic and climatic changes, led to dramatic modifications of landscape composition and structure (Malkinson et al., 2011). Post-fire vegetation recovery depends on environmental factors such as landscape features and climatic variables and on specific plant traits; however it also depends on the differentiated response of each species to the characteristics of fire regimes, such as recurrence, severity and extent. The complexity of the interactions between these factors emphasizes the importance of assessing quantitatively post-fire recovery as well as the role of driving factors of regeneration over different regions in the Mediterranean. In 2006, Spain experienced the fire season with larger fires, restricted to a relatively small region of the province of Galicia, that represents more than 60% of total burned area of this fire season (92000ha out of 148827 ha). The 2007 fire season in Greece was remarkably severe, registering the highest value of burnt area (225734 ha) since 1980. Finally, in 2010 a very large wildfire of about 5000 ha occurred in Mount Carmel, Israel, with major social and environmental impacts. The work relies on monthly NDVI data from SPOT/VEGETATION at 1km spatial resolution over the period from September 1998 - August 2011 for Spain, Greece and Israel. Here we have applied the same sequential methodology developed at our laboratory, starting by the identification of very large burnt scars by means of a spatial cluster analysis followed by the application of the monoparametric model (Gouveia et al., 2010; Bastos et al., 2011) in order to study post-fire vegetation dynamics. Post-fire recovery times were estimated for burnt scars from each fire season considered in this study. The influence of driving factors such as pre-fire land-cover type and fire damage on vegetation recovery was assessed by means of a spatial analysis on recovery time fields. Finally, post-fire behaviour of vegetation over the selected regions and the role of the driving factors were compared. This work draws attention to the fact that the simple model applied by Bastos et al. (2011) to monitor vegetation recovery in Portugal following large wildfires is still applicable over other Mediterranean regions using coarse resolution remotely sensed data. Bastos A., Gouveia C., DaCamara C.C., and Trigo R.M.: Modelling post-fire vegetation recovery in Portugal. Biogeosciences, 8, 4559-4601, 2011. Gouveia C., DaCamara C.C. and Trigo R.M.: Post fire vegetation recovery in Portugal based on SPOT-VEGETATION data. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 10, 673-684, 2010. Malkinson D., Wittenberg, L., Beeri O. and Barzilai R.: Effects of repeated fires on the structure, composition, and dynamics of Mediterranean maquis: Short- and long-term perspectives. Ecosystems, 14, 478-488, 2011.

  14. Dynamical Mechanisms and Variability of Dry and Wet Spells in Iberia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liberato, Margarida L. R.; Montero, Irene; Gouveia, Célia

    2014-05-01

    Dry and wet spells in Iberia have widespread ecological and environmental negative impacts resulting in major socioeconomic damages such as crop yield losses or increasing forest fire risk [Gouveia et al. 2009; Amraoui et al. 2013] and flash flooding, urban inundations, landslides and associated human and infrastructure damages [Liberato et al. 2013]. The 20th century was characterized by a negative trend on precipitation and a positive trend on temperature in southern Europe. On the other hand recent results suggest that there are opposite tendencies in the duration of wet and dry spells over the Iberia. At the monthly and seasonal scales, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Eastern Atlantic (EA) and the Scandinavian (SCAN) patterns are important large-scale variability modes that control the Iberian precipitation regime. The NAO modulates the westerly atmospheric flow by shifting the polar jet and the associated storm-tracks. At the sub-monthly scale, extratropical cyclones have a significant impact on Iberian climate and are one of the primary causes of extreme events occurrence over the region [Liberato et al. 2011; 2013]. In this work we investigate the connection between midlatitude cyclones and the onset and recurrent character of droughts, heavy precipitation and spell duration in Iberia. Our results confirm the links between unusual circulation patterns with these extreme events. Moreover we show how the frequency on the occurrence of extratropical cyclones on the Euro-Atlantic region is critical in explaining the tails of the precipitation distribution in Iberia. Acknowledgments: This work was partially supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal) under project QSECA (PTDC/AAG-GLO/4155/2012). References: Amraoui M., M. L. R. Liberato, T. J. Calado, C. C. DaCamara, L. P. Coelho, R. M. Trigo, C. M. Gouveia (2013) Fire activity over Mediterranean Europe based on information from Meteosat-8. Forest Ecology and Management, 294: 62-75, doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2012.08.032 Gouveia, C., , R. M. Trigo, , C. C. DaCamara (2009) Drought and Vegetation Stress Monitoring in Portugal using Satellite Data, Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 9: 185-195 doi:10.5194/nhess-9-185-2009 Liberato M. L. R., J. G. Pinto, I. F. Trigo, R. M. Trigo (2011) Klaus - an exceptional winter storm over Northern Iberia and Southern France. Weather 66: 330-334 doi:10.1002/wea.755 Liberato, M. L. R., A. M. Ramos, R. M. Trigo, I. F. Trigo, A. M. Durán-Quesada, R. Nieto, L. Gimeno (2013) Moisture Sources and Large-Scale Dynamics Associated With a Flash Flood Event, in Lagrangian Modeling of the Atmosphere (eds J. Lin, D. Brunner, C. Gerbig, A. Stohl, A. Luhar and P. Webley), Geophys. Monogr. Ser., 200: 111-126, American Geophysical Union, Washington, D. C. doi: 10.1029/2012GM001244

  15. Taxonomy of the Loggerhead Kingbird (Tyrannus caudifasciatus) complex (Aves: Tyrannidae)

    Treesearch

    Orlando H. Garrido; James W. Wiley; George B. Reynard

    2009-01-01

    We examined the complex of populations of the Loggerhead Kingbird (Tyrannus caudifasciatus), a West Indian endemic. We separate populations in Puerto Rico and Isla Vieques (T. taylori), and Hispaniola (T. gabbii) as distinct species. Subspecific distinction is assigned to populations in Cuba, Isla de Pinos, and Cuban satellites (T. caudifasciatus caudifasciatus);...

  16. Dispatch No. 107 of 7 August 1989.

    PubMed

    1989-01-01

    This Order prohibits the cutting, exploitation, and deforestation of "Pino Laso (Decussocarpus rospigliosii)" and other species of the family Podocarpaceae on all public and private property in Venezuela, except in limited and controlled circumstances. The preamble to the Dispatch states that trees of this species help to protect the sources of most of the country's water.

  17. Thrust-induced collapse of mountains-an example from the "Big Bend" region of the San Andreas Fault, western transverse ranges, California

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kellogg, Karl S.

    2005-01-01

    Mount Pinos and Frazier Mountain are two prominent mountains just south of the San Andreas fault in the western Transverse Ranges of southern California, a region that has undergone rapid Quaternary contraction and uplift. Both mountains are underlain, at least in part, by thrusts that place granitic and gneissic rocks over sedimentary rocks as young as Pliocene. Broad profiles and nearly flat summits of each mountain have previously been interpreted as relicts of a raised erosion surface. However, several features bring this interpretation into question. First, lag or stream gravels do not mantle the summit surfaces. Second, extensive landslide deposits, mostly pre?Holocene and deeply incised, mantle the flanks of both mountains. Third, a pervasive fracture and crushed?rock network pervades the crystalline rocks underlying both mountains. The orientation of the fractures, prominent in roadcuts on Mount Pinos, is essentially random. 'Hill?and?saddle' morphology characterizes ridges radiating from the summits, especially on Mount Pinos; outcrops are sparse on the hills and are nonexistent in the saddles, suggesting fractures are concentrated in the saddles. Latest movement on the thrusts underlying the two mountain massifs is probably early Quaternary, during which the mountains were uplifted to considerably higher (although unknown) elevations than at present. A model proposes that during thrusting, ground accelerations in the hanging wall, particularly near thrust tips, were high enough to pervasively fracture the hanging?wall rocks, thereby weakening them and producing essentially an assemblage of loose blocks. Movement over flexures in the fault surface accentuated fracturing. The lowered shear stresses necessary for failure, coupled with deep dissection and ongoing seismic activity, reduced gravitational potential by spreading the mountain massifs, triggering flanking landslides and producing broad, flat?topped mountains. This study developed from mapping in the western Transverse Ranges as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's Southern California Areal Mapping Project (SCAMP).

  18. SRTM Perspective View with Landsat Overlay: Mt. Pinos and San Joaquin Valley, California

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    Ask any astronomer where the best stargazing site in Southern California is, and chances are they'll say Mt. Pinos. In this perspective view generated from SRTM elevation data the snow-capped peak is seen rising to an elevation of 2,692 meters (8,831 feet), in stark contrast to the flat agricultural fields of the San Joaquin valley seen in the foreground. Below the summit, but still well away from city lights, the Mt. Pinos parking lot at 2,468 meters (8,100 feet) is a popular viewing area for both amateur and professional astronomers and astro-photographers. For visualization purposes, topographic heights displayed in this image are exaggerated two times.

    The elevation data used in this image was acquired by SRTM aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, launched on February 11, 2000. SRTM used the same radar instrument that comprised the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) that flew twice on Endeavour in 1994. SRTM was designed to collect three-dimensional measurements of Earth's land surface. To collect the 3-D SRTM data, engineers added a mast 60 meters (about 200 feet)long, installed additional C-band and X-band antennas, and improved tracking and navigation devices. The mission is a cooperative project between the NASA, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) of the U.S. Department of Defense, and the German and Italian space agencies. It is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise,Washington, D.C. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

    Distance to Horizon: 176 kilometers (109 miles) Location: 34.83 deg. North lat., 119.25 deg. West lon. View: Toward the Southwest Date Acquired: February 16, 2000 SRTM, December 14, 1984 Landsat

  19. Dietary acid load is associated with lower bone mineral density in men with low intake of dietary calcium.

    PubMed

    Mangano, Kelsey M; Walsh, Stephen J; Kenny, Anne M; Insogna, Karl L; Kerstetter, Jane E

    2014-02-01

    High dietary acid load (DAL) may be detrimental to bone mineral density (BMD). The objectives of the study were to: (1) evaluate the cross-sectional relation between DAL and BMD; and (2) determine whether calcium intake modifies this association. Men (n = 1218) and women (n = 907) aged ≥60 years were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008. Nutrient intake from 2, 24-hour recalls was used to calculate net endogenous acid production (NEAP) and potential renal acid load (PRAL) (mEq/d). PRAL was calculated from dietary calcium (PRALdiet ) and diet + supplemental calcium (PRALtotal ). Tests for linear trend in adjusted mean BMD of the hip and lumbar spine were performed across energy-adjusted NEAP and PRAL quartiles. Modification by calcium intake (dietary or total) above or below 800 mg/d was assessed by interaction terms. Overall, mean age was 69 ± 0.3 years. Among women, there was no association between NEAP and BMD. PRALdiet was positively associated with proximal femur BMD (p trend = 0.04). No associations were observed with PRALtotal at any BMD site (p range, 0.38-0.82). Among men, no significant associations were observed between BMD and NEAP or PRAL. However, an interaction between PRALdiet and calcium intake was observed with proximal femur BMD (p = 0.08). An inverse association between PRALdiet and proximal femur BMD was detected among men with <800 mg/d dietary calcium (p = 0.02); no associations were found among men with ≥800 mg/d (p = 0.98). A significant interaction with PRALtotal was not observed. In conclusion, when supplemental calcium is considered, there is no association between DAL and BMD among adults. Men with low dietary calcium showed an inverse relation with PRAL at the proximal femur; in women no interaction was observed. This study highlights the importance of calcium intake in counteracting the adverse effect of DAL on bone health. Further research should determine the relation between DAL and change in BMD with very low calcium intake. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

  20. The external amino acid signaling pathway promotes activation of Stp1 and Uga35/Dal81 transcription factors for induction of the AGP1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

    PubMed Central

    Abdel-Sater, Fadi; Iraqui, Ismaïl; Urrestarazu, Antonio; André, Bruno

    2004-01-01

    Yeast cells respond to the presence of amino acids in their environment by inducing transcription of several amino acid permease genes including AGP1, BAP2, and BAP3. The signaling pathway responsible for this induction involves Ssy1, a permease-like sensor of external amino acids, and culminates with proteolytic cleavage and translocation to the nucleus of the zinc-finger proteins Stp1 and Stp2, the lack of which abolishes induction of BAP2 and BAP3. Here we show that Stp1-but not Stp2-plays an important role in AGP1 induction, although significant induction of AGP1 by amino acids persists in stp1 and stp1 stp2 mutants. This residual induction depends on the Uga35/Dal81 transcription factor, indicating that the external amino acid signaling pathway activates not only Stp1 and Stp2, but also another Uga35/Dal81-dependent transcriptional circuit. Analysis of the AGP1 gene's upstream region revealed that Stp1 and Uga35/Dal81 act synergistically through a 21-bp cis-acting sequence similar to the UAS(AA) element previously found in the BAP2 and BAP3 upstream regions. Although cells growing under poor nitrogen-supply conditions display much higher induction of AGP1 expression than cells growing under good nitrogen-supply conditions, the UAS(AA) itself is totally insensitive to nitrogen availability. Nitrogen-source control of AGP1 induction is mediated by the GATA factor Gln3, likely acting through adjacent 5'-GATA-3' sequences, to amplify the positive effect of UAS(AA). Our data indicate that Stp1 may act in combination with distinct sets of transcription factors, according to the gene context, to promote induction of transcription in response to external amino acids. The data also suggest that Uga35/Dal81 is yet another transcription factor under the control of the external amino acid sensing pathway. Finally, the data show that the TOR pathway mediating global nitrogen control of transcription does not interfere with the external amino acid signaling pathway. PMID:15126393

  1. Community environmental factors are associated with disability in older adults with functional limitations: the MOST study.

    PubMed

    Keysor, Julie J; Jette, Alan M; LaValley, Michael P; Lewis, Cora E; Torner, James C; Nevitt, Michael C; Felson, Dave T

    2010-04-01

    There is limited evidence supporting the hypothesized environment-disability link. The objectives of this study were to (a) identify the prevalence of community mobility barriers and transportation facilitators and (b) examine whether barriers and facilitators were associated with disability among older adults with functional limitations. Four hundred and thirty-five participants aged 65+ years old with functional limitations were recruited from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study, a prospective study of community-dwelling adults with or at risk of developing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Presence of community barriers and facilitators was ascertained by the Home and Community Environment survey. Two domains of disability, (a) daily activity limitation (DAL) and (b) daily activity frequency (DAF), were assessed with the Late-Life Disability Instrument. Covariates included age, gender, education, race, comorbidity, body mass index, knee pain, and functional limitation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine adjusted associations of community factors with presence of DAL and DAF. Approximately one third of the participants lived in a community with high mobility barriers and low transportation facilitators. High mobility barriers was associated with greater odds of DAL (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-3.1) after adjusting for covariates, and high transportation facilitators was associated with lower odds of DAL (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8) but not with DAF in adjusted models. People with functional limitations who live in communities that were more restrictive felt more limited in doing daily activities but did not perform these daily activities any less frequently.

  2. Development and characterization of a complete set of Triticum aestivum-Roegneria ciliaris disomic addition lines.

    PubMed

    Kong, Lingna; Song, Xinying; Xiao, Jin; Sun, Haojie; Dai, Keli; Lan, Caixia; Singh, Pawan; Yuan, Chunxia; Zhang, Shouzhong; Singh, Ravi; Wang, Haiyan; Wang, Xiue

    2018-05-31

    A complete set wheat-R. ciliaris disomic addition lines (DALs) were characterized and the homoeologous groups and genome affinities of R. ciliaris chromosomes were determined. Wild relatives are rich gene resources for cultivated wheat. The development of alien addition chromosome lines not only greatly broadens the genetic diversity, but also provides genetic stocks for comparative genomics studies. Roegneria ciliaris (genome S c S c Y c Y c ), a tetraploid wild relative of wheat, is tolerant or resistant to many abiotic and biotic stresses. To develop a complete set of wheat-R. ciliaris disomic addition lines (DALs), we undertook a euplasmic backcrossing program to overcome allocytoplasmic effects and preferential chromosome transmission. To improve the efficiency of identifying chromosomes from S c and Y c , we established techniques including sequential genomic in situ hybridization/fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and molecular marker analysis. Fourteen DALs of wheat, each containing one pair of R. ciliaris chromosomes pairs, were characterized by FISH using four repetitive sequences [pTa794, pTa71, RcAfa and (GAA) 10 ] as probes. One hundred and sixty-two R. ciliaris-specific markers were developed. FISH and marker analysis enabled us to assign the homoeologous groups and genome affinities of R. ciliaris chromosomes. FHB resistance evaluation in successive five growth seasons showed that the amphiploid, DA2Y c , DA5Y c and DA6S c had improved FHB resistance, indicating their potential value in wheat improvement. The 14 DALs are likely new gene resources and will be phenotyped for more agronomic performances traits.

  3. Evaluation of secretome of highly efficient lignocellulolytic Penicillium sp. Dal 5 isolated from rhizosphere of conifers.

    PubMed

    Rai, Rohit; Kaur, Baljit; Singh, Surender; Di Falco, Macros; Tsang, Adrian; Chadha, B S

    2016-09-01

    Penicillium sp. (Dal 5) isolated from rhizosphere of conifers from Dalhousie (Himachal Pradesh, India) was found to be an efficient cellulolytic strain. The culture under shake flask on CWR (cellulose, wheat bran and rice straw) medium produced appreciably higher levels of endoglucanase (35.69U/ml), β-glucosidase (4.20U/ml), cellobiohydrolase (2.86U/ml), FPase (1.2U/ml) and xylanase (115U/ml) compared to other Penicillium strains reported in literature. The mass spectroscopy analysis of Penicillium sp. Dal 5 secretome identified 108 proteins constituting an array of CAZymes including glycosyl hydrolases (GH) belonging to 24 different families, polysaccharide lyases (PL), carbohydrate esterases (CE), lytic polysaccharide mono-oxygenases (LPMO) in addition to swollenin and a variety of carbohydrate binding modules (CBM) indicating an elaborate genetic potential of this strain for hydrolysis of lignocellulosics. Further, the culture extract was evaluated for hydrolysis of alkali treated rice straw, wheat straw, bagasse and corn cob at 10% substrate loading rate. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. [Ecological study on the mortality of residents in Manfredonia (Apulia Region, Southern Italy) from 1970 to 2013].

    PubMed

    Gianicolo, Emilio Antonio Luca; Mangia, Cristina; Cervino, Marco; Bruni, Antonella; De Marchi, Bruna; Biggeri, Annibale; Porcu, Rosa; Vigotti, Maria Angela

    2016-01-01

    OBIETTIVI: valutare lo stato di salute della popolazione residente nel comune di Manfredonia dal 1970 al 2013. DISEGNO: analisi descrittiva dell'andamento temporale della mortalità generale, per gruppi di cause, dal 1970 al 2013. SETTING E PARTECIPANTI: i dati di mortalità e le popolazioni residenti sono di fonte Istat. Sono state esaminate 55 cause di decesso. Le analisi sono disaggregate per sesso e periodo. PRINCIPALI MISURE DI OUTCOME: sono stati elaborati i rapporti standardizzati di mortalità (SMR%), con i rispettivi intervalli di confidenza al 90% (IC90%), e i tassi di mortalità standardizzati col metodo diretto (TSD ). RISULTATI: lo stato di salute misurato dal tasso di mortalità per tutte le cause migliora nel tempo: i TSD passano da 92 x10.000 negli anni 1970-1974 a 52 x10.000 nel biennio 2012-2013 negli uomini, da 70 x10.000 a 39 x10.000 nelle donne. Tuttavia, rispetto alla media regionale Manfredonia perde progressivamente il suo vantaggio, passando da -20% a -10% negli uomini, e da -20% a +1,5% nelle donne. Questo andamento è molto evidente per il complesso delle cause cardiovascolari, mentre i tumori maligni sono in generale nella media regionale. Nell'ultimo periodo disponibile per causa di decesso (2006-2011), la mortalità per infarto miocardico è stata più alta della media regionale (uomini: +35%; donne: +54%). I rapporti standardizzati di mortalità (SMR) mostrano tra gli uomini valori in crescita, in particolar modo rispetto al riferimento provinciale, con un eccesso a cominciare dal periodo 2006-2011 (22 decessi/anno e 19 attesi; SMR%: 117,2; IC90% 101,1-135,2; riferimento: provincia di Foggia). Anche tra le donne gli SMR% superano i riferimenti provinciali negli ultimi periodi esaminati (nel 2012-2013: 7 decessi/ anno e 4,2 attesi; SMR%: 116,4; IC90% 97,0-260,7; riferimento: provincia di Foggia). CONCLUSIONI: la mortalità a Manfredonia è diminuita in misura minore rispetto a quella osservata nei riferimenti provinciali e regionali. Il vantaggio che si osservava negli anni Sessanta si è, infatti, ridotto nel tempo, fino ad annullarsi negli ultimi anni. Dal 1970, Manfredonia ha progressivamente perso il vantaggio che aveva. Dagli anni Duemila, la mortalità per infarto del miocardio è in eccesso sulla media regionale e provinciale. Da casi documentati in letteratura si osserva che le popolazioni che sperimentano catastrofi di origine naturale o antropica possono fronteggiare un aumento di patologie cardiovascolari. La mortalità per tumore polmonare mostra un eccesso sulla media regionale, in particolare provinciale, a cominciare dal 2000, coerentemente con i tempi di latenza legati all'esposizione ad arsenico negli anni Settanta.

  5. Extreme sea storm in the Mediterranean Sea. Trends during the 2nd half of the 20th century.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pino, C.; Lionello, P.; Galati, M. B.

    2009-04-01

    Extreme sea storm in the Mediterranean Sea. Trends during the 2nd half of the 20th century Piero Lionello, University of Salento, piero.lionello@unisalento.it Maria Barbara Galati, University of Salento, mariabarbara.galati@unisalento.it Cosimo Pino, University of Salento, pino@le.infn.it The analysis of extreme Significant Wave Height (SWH) values and their trend is crucial for planning and managing coastal defences and off-shore activities. The analysis provided by this study covers a 44-year long period (1958-2001). First the WW3 (Wave Watch 3) model forced with the REMO-Hipocas regional model wind fields has been used for the hindcast of extreme SWH values over the Mediterranean basin with a 0.25 deg lat-lon resolution. Subsequently, the model results have been processed with an ad hoc software to detect storms. GEV analysis has been perfomed and a set of indicators for extreme SWH have been computed, using the Mann Kendall test for assessing statistical significance of trends for different parameter such as the number of extreme events, their duration and their intensity. Results suggest a transition towards weaker extremes and a milder climate over most of the Mediterranean Sea.

  6. Traumatic brain injury causes long-term behavioral changes related to region-specific increases of cerebral blood flow.

    PubMed

    Pöttker, Bruno; Stöber, Franziska; Hummel, Regina; Angenstein, Frank; Radyushkin, Konstantin; Goldschmidt, Jürgen; Schäfer, Michael K E

    2017-12-01

    Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and death and survivors often suffer from long-lasting motor impairment, cognitive deficits, anxiety disorders and epilepsy. Few experimental studies have investigated long-term sequelae after TBI and relations between behavioral changes and neural activity patterns remain elusive. We examined these issues in a murine model of TBI combining histology, behavioral analyses and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) as a proxy for neural activity. Adult C57Bl/6N mice were subjected to unilateral cortical impact injury and investigated at early (15-57 days after lesion, dal) and late (184-225 dal) post-traumatic time points. TBI caused pronounced tissue loss of the parietal cortex and subcortical structures and enduring neurological deficits. Marked perilesional astro- and microgliosis was found at 57 dal and declined at 225 dal. Motor and gait pattern deficits occurred at early time points after TBI and improved over the time. In contrast, impaired performance in the Morris water maze test and decreased anxiety-like behavior persisted together with an increased susceptibility to pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures suggesting alterations in neural activity patterns. Accordingly, SPECT imaging of CBF indicated asymmetric hemispheric baseline neural activity patterns. In the ipsilateral hemisphere, increased baseline neural activity was found in the amygdala. In the contralateral hemisphere, homotopic to the structural brain damage, the hippocampus and distinct cortex regions displayed increased baseline neural activity. Thus, regionally elevated CBF along with behavioral alterations indicate that increased neural activity is critically involved in the long-lasting consequences of TBI.

  7. Characterization of the Complete Uric Acid Degradation Pathway in the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

    PubMed Central

    Lee, I. Russel; Yang, Liting; Sebetso, Gaseene; Allen, Rebecca; Doan, Thi H. N.; Blundell, Ross; Lui, Edmund Y. L.; Morrow, Carl A.; Fraser, James A.

    2013-01-01

    Degradation of purines to uric acid is generally conserved among organisms, however, the end product of uric acid degradation varies from species to species depending on the presence of active catabolic enzymes. In humans, most higher primates and birds, the urate oxidase gene is non-functional and hence uric acid is not further broken down. Uric acid in human blood plasma serves as an antioxidant and an immune enhancer; conversely, excessive amounts cause the common affliction gout. In contrast, uric acid is completely degraded to ammonia in most fungi. Currently, relatively little is known about uric acid catabolism in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans even though this yeast is commonly isolated from uric acid-rich pigeon guano. In addition, uric acid utilization enhances the production of the cryptococcal virulence factors capsule and urease, and may potentially modulate the host immune response during infection. Based on these important observations, we employed both Agrobacterium-mediated insertional mutagenesis and bioinformatics to predict all the uric acid catabolic enzyme-encoding genes in the H99 genome. The candidate C. neoformans uric acid catabolic genes identified were named: URO1 (urate oxidase), URO2 (HIU hydrolase), URO3 (OHCU decarboxylase), DAL1 (allantoinase), DAL2,3,3 (allantoicase-ureidoglycolate hydrolase fusion protein), and URE1 (urease). All six ORFs were then deleted via homologous recombination; assaying of the deletion mutants' ability to assimilate uric acid and its pathway intermediates as the sole nitrogen source validated their enzymatic functions. While Uro1, Uro2, Uro3, Dal1 and Dal2,3,3 were demonstrated to be dispensable for virulence, the significance of using a modified animal model system of cryptococcosis for improved mimicking of human pathogenicity is discussed. PMID:23667704

  8. [Mortality from respiratory diseases in the provinces of Apulia Region (Southern Italy) from 1933 to 2010].

    PubMed

    Montinari, Maria Rosa; Gianicolo, Emilio Antonio Luca; Vigotti, Maria Angela

    2016-01-01

    OBIETTIVI: valutare l'andamento temporale della mortalità per patologie respiratorie nelle province pugliesi utilizzando dati omogenei per fonte e metodologia di calcolo. DISEGNO: analisi ecologica storica degli andamenti temporali di mortalità per tumori e patologie dell'apparato respiratorio nelle province pugliesi, in Puglia e nelle ripartizioni geografiche italiane dal 1933 al 2010. SETTING E PARTECIPANTI: i dati di mortalità e le popolazioni residenti sono di fonte Istat. Sono state esaminate tutte le cause di decesso, il tumore della laringe, il tumore del polmone, l'insieme dei tumori respiratori, la bronchite, la polmonite e la broncopolmonite considerate congiuntamente, e l'insieme delle patologie respiratorie. Le analisi sono disaggregate per sesso dal 1969. PRINCIPALI MISURE DI OUTCOME: rapporti standardizzati di mortalità (SMR%) in riferimento all'Italia, con intervalli di confidenza al 95%, e tassi di mortalità standardizzati col metodo diretto (TSD ) in riferimento alla popolazione standard europea. RISULTATI: dal 1933 al 2010, i TSD per tumori respiratori e per bronchiti diminuiscono in tutte le aree analizzate. Tuttavia, nelle province di Taranto, Brindisi e Lecce, l'SMR% per tumori respiratori, inferiore al riferimento nazionale fino agli anni Sessanta, si allinea (a Brindisi) e supera (a Lecce e Taranto) il riferimento negli anni successivi. Nelle province di Foggia e Bari il numero dei decessi per tumore del polmone è costantemente inferiore all'atteso. CONCLUSIONI: la ricostruzione storica e l'analisi dei trend temporali di mortalità dal 1933 al 2010 mostrano alcune criticità sanitarie in periodi specifici. L'elaborazione dei dati di mortalità per un arco temporale di circa 80 anni ha messo in evidenza la maggiore rilevanza di queste criticità con l'avvio dello sviluppo industriale.

  9. Characterization of the complete uric acid degradation pathway in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

    PubMed

    Lee, I Russel; Yang, Liting; Sebetso, Gaseene; Allen, Rebecca; Doan, Thi H N; Blundell, Ross; Lui, Edmund Y L; Morrow, Carl A; Fraser, James A

    2013-01-01

    Degradation of purines to uric acid is generally conserved among organisms, however, the end product of uric acid degradation varies from species to species depending on the presence of active catabolic enzymes. In humans, most higher primates and birds, the urate oxidase gene is non-functional and hence uric acid is not further broken down. Uric acid in human blood plasma serves as an antioxidant and an immune enhancer; conversely, excessive amounts cause the common affliction gout. In contrast, uric acid is completely degraded to ammonia in most fungi. Currently, relatively little is known about uric acid catabolism in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans even though this yeast is commonly isolated from uric acid-rich pigeon guano. In addition, uric acid utilization enhances the production of the cryptococcal virulence factors capsule and urease, and may potentially modulate the host immune response during infection. Based on these important observations, we employed both Agrobacterium-mediated insertional mutagenesis and bioinformatics to predict all the uric acid catabolic enzyme-encoding genes in the H99 genome. The candidate C. neoformans uric acid catabolic genes identified were named: URO1 (urate oxidase), URO2 (HIU hydrolase), URO3 (OHCU decarboxylase), DAL1 (allantoinase), DAL2,3,3 (allantoicase-ureidoglycolate hydrolase fusion protein), and URE1 (urease). All six ORFs were then deleted via homologous recombination; assaying of the deletion mutants' ability to assimilate uric acid and its pathway intermediates as the sole nitrogen source validated their enzymatic functions. While Uro1, Uro2, Uro3, Dal1 and Dal2,3,3 were demonstrated to be dispensable for virulence, the significance of using a modified animal model system of cryptococcosis for improved mimicking of human pathogenicity is discussed.

  10. Fire regime in a Mexican forest under indigenous resource management.

    PubMed

    Fulé, Peter Z; Ramos-Gómez, Mauro; Cortés-Montaño, Citlali; Miller, Andrew M

    2011-04-01

    The Rarámuri (Tarahumara) people live in the mountains and canyons of the Sierra Madre Occidental of Chihuahua, Mexico. They base their subsistence on multiple-use strategies of their natural resources, including agriculture, pastoralism, and harvesting of native plants and wildlife. Pino Gordo is a Rarámuri settlement in a remote location where the forest has not been commercially logged. We reconstructed the forest fire regime from fire-scarred trees, measured the structure of the never-logged forest, and interviewed community members about fire use. Fire occurrence was consistent throughout the 19th and 20th centuries up to our fire scar collection in 2004. This is the least interrupted surface-fire regime reported to date in North America. Studies from other relict sites such as nature reserves in Mexico or the USA have all shown some recent alterations associated with industrialized society. At Pino Gordo, fires recurred frequently at the three study sites, with a composite mean fire interval of 1.9 years (all fires) to 7.6 years (fires scarring 25% or more of samples). Per-sample fire intervals averaged 10-14 years at the three sites. Approximately two-thirds of fires burned in the season of cambial dormancy, probably during the pre-monsoonal drought. Forests were dominated by pines and contained many large living trees and snags, in contrast to two nearby similar forests that have been logged. Community residents reported using fire for many purposes, consistent with previous literature on fire use by indigenous people. Pino Gordo is a valuable example of a continuing frequent-fire regime in a never-harvested forest. The Rarámuri people have actively conserved this forest through their traditional livelihood and management techniques, as opposed to logging the forest, and have also facilitated the fire regime by burning. The data contribute to a better understanding of the interactions of humans who live in pine forests and the fire regimes of these ecosystems, a topic that has been controversial and difficult to assess from historical or paleoecological evidence.

  11. Interaction between repressor Opi1p and ER membrane protein Scs2p facilitates transit of phosphatidic acid from the ER to mitochondria and is essential for INO1 gene expression in the presence of choline.

    PubMed

    Gaspar, Maria L; Chang, Yu-Fang; Jesch, Stephen A; Aregullin, Manuel; Henry, Susan A

    2017-11-10

    In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , the Opi1p repressor controls the expression of INO1 via the Opi1p/Ino2p-Ino4p regulatory circuit. Inositol depletion favors Opi1p interaction with both Scs2p and phosphatidic acid at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Inositol supplementation, however, favors the translocation of Opi1p from the ER into the nucleus, where it interacts with the Ino2p-Ino4p complex, attenuating transcription of INO1 A strain devoid of Scs2p ( scs2 Δ) and a mutant, OPI1FFAT , lacking the ability to interact with Scs2p were utilized to examine the specific role(s) of the Opi1p-Scs2p interaction in the regulation of INO1 expression and overall lipid metabolism. Loss of the Opi1p-Scs2p interaction reduced INO1 expression and conferred inositol auxotrophy. Moreover, inositol depletion in strains lacking this interaction resulted in Opi1p being localized to sites of lipid droplet formation, coincident with increased synthesis of triacylglycerol. Supplementation of choline to inositol-depleted growth medium led to decreased TAG synthesis in all three strains. However, in strains lacking the Opi1p-Scs2p interaction, Opi1p remained in the nucleus, preventing expression of INO1 These data support the conclusion that a specific pool of phosphatidic acid, associated with lipid droplet formation in the perinuclear ER, is responsible for the initial rapid exit of Opi1p from the nucleus to the ER and is required for INO1 expression in the presence of choline. Moreover, the mitochondria-specific phospholipid, cardiolipin, was significantly reduced in both strains compromised for Opi1p-Scs2p interaction, indicating that this interaction is required for the transfer of phosphatidic acid from the ER to the mitochondria for cardiolipin synthesis. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  12. The theory, design, and operation of the suppressed carrier data-aided tracking receiver

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Simon, M. K.; Springett, J. C.

    1973-01-01

    A viable, efficient, and easily mechanized carrier regenerating receiver for use in suppressed carrier-tracking system is described. The receiver referred to as a data-aided receiver (DAR) incorporates a data-aided loop (DAL) which provides the required carrier reference signal. The DAL employs the principle of decision feedback and as such is more efficient than other forms of suppressed carrier-tracking loops. The analysis, design, and implementation of the DAR are covered in detail. Performance comparisons and mechanization tradeoffs are made, wherever possible, with discrete carrier systems and other suppressed carrier systems presently in use. Experimental performance verification is given throughout in support of the theory presented.

  13. The 2005 and 2012 major drought events in Iberia: monitoring vegetation dynamics and crop yields using satellite data.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouveia, Célia M.; Trigo, Ricardo M.

    2014-05-01

    The Iberian Peninsula is recurrently affected by drought episodes and therefore by the adverse effects associated that range from severe water shortages to economic losses and related social impacts. During the hydrological years of 2004/2005 and 2011/2012, Iberia was hit by two of the worst drought episodes ever recording in this semi-arid region (Garcia-Herrera at al., 2007; Trigo et al., 2013). These two drought episodes were extreme in both its magnitude and spatial extent. A tendency towards a drier Mediterranean for the period 1970-2010 in comparison with 1901-70 has been identified (Hoerling et al., 2012), reinforcing the need for a continuous monitoring of vegetation stress and reliable estimates of the drought impacts. The strong effect of water scarcity on vegetation dynamics is well documented in Mediterranean and other semi-arid regions. Despite the usual link established between the decrease of vegetation greenness and the lack of precipitation during a considerably long period, the impact on vegetation activity may be amplified by other climatic anomalies, such as high temperature, high wind, and low relative humidity. The recent availability of consistent satellite imagery covering large regions over long periods of time has progressively reinforced the role of remote sensing in environmental studies, in particular in those related to drought episodes (e.g. Gouveia et al., 2009). The aim of the present work is to assess and monitor the cumulative impact over time of drought conditions on vegetation over Iberian Peninsula. For this purpose we have used the regional fields of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as obtained from the VEGETATION-SPOT5 instrument, from 1999 to 2013. The entire 15-yr long period was analysed, but particular attention was devoted to the two extreme drought episodes of 2004-2005 and 2011-2012. During the hydrological years of 2004-2005 and 2011-2012 drought episodes negative anomalies of NDVI were observed over large sectors of Iberia for up to seven months (out of eleven) of the vegetative cycle. While in the case of the drought episode of 2005 the impact on vegetation covered roughly 2/3 of the Iberian Peninsula (Gouveia et al., 2012), whereas in the recent episode of 2012 the deficit in greenness affected a more restrictive area located in central Iberia. The vegetation response to water stress was also analysed and compared for different land cover types. Results revealed a stronger vulnerability to drought events for arable land with severe impacts on cereals crop productions and yield (namely wheat), for Portugal and Spain in both years, however slightly less severe for 2012. In conclusion, and from an operational point of view, our results reveal the ability of the developed methodology to monitor vegetation stress and droughts in Iberia. Acknowledgments: This work was partially supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal) under project QSECA (PTDC/AAG-GLO/4155/2012) Garcia-Herrera R., Paredes D., Trigo R. M., Trigo I. F., Hernandez E., Barriopedro D. and Mendes M. A., 2007: The Outstanding 2004/05 Drought in the Iberian Peninsula: Associated Atmospheric Circulation, J. Hydrometeorol., 8, 483-498. Gouveia C., Trigo R. M., and DaCamara C. C., 2009: Drought and vegetation stress monitoring in Portugal using satellite data, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 9, 185-195, doi:10.5194/nhess-9-185- 2009. Gouveia C.M., Bastos A., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C., 2012: Drought impacts on vegetation in the pre and post-fire events over Iberian Peninsula". Natural Hazards Earth System Sciences, 12, 3123-3137, 2012, doi:10.5194/nhess-12-3123-2012. Hoerling M., Eischeid J., Perlwitz J., Quan X., Zhang T., Pegion P., 2012: On the Increased Frequency of Mediterranean Drought. J. Climate, 25, 2146-2161. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00296.1 Trigo R.M., Añel J., Barriopedro D., García-Herrera R., Gimeno L., Nieto R., Castillo R., Allen M.R., Massey N. (2013), The record Winter drought of 2011-12 in the Iberian Peninsula [in "Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective". [Peterson, T. C., M. P. Hoerling, P.A. Stott and S. Herring, Eds.] Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 94 (9), S41-S45.

  14. Detection of possible Phytophthora pinifolia infection in pinus radiata green sawn timber produced in Chile

    Treesearch

    R. Ahumada; C. Díaz; M. Peredo; C. Barría; P. González; G. Cuevas

    2010-01-01

    A new needle blight disease was observed on Pinus radiata in Chile during 2004. The disease, known in Chile as Daño Foliar del Pino (DFP), stretches southward from the Arauco to Valdivia Provinces, and was present over an area of about 60 000 ha in 2006, with different levels of intensity. The disease is typified by needle infections and...

  15. Prevention of GABA reduction during dough fermentation using a baker's yeast dal81 mutant.

    PubMed

    Ando, Akira; Nakamura, Toshihide

    2016-10-01

    γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is consumed by yeasts during fermentation. To prevent GABA reduction in bread dough, a baker's yeast mutant AY77 deficient in GABA assimilation was characterized and utilized for wheat dough fermentation. An amber mutation in the DAL81 gene, which codes for a positive regulator of multiple nitrogen degradation pathways, was found in the AY77 strain. The qPCR analyses of genes involved in nitrogen utilization showed that transcriptional levels of the UGA1 and DUR3 genes encoding GABA transaminase and urea transporter, respectively, are severely decreased in the AY77 cells. The AY77 strain cultivated by fed-batch culture using cane molasses exhibited inferior gas production during dough fermentation compared to that of wild-type strain AY13. However, when fed with molasses containing 0.5% ammonium sulfate, the mutant strain exhibited gas production comparable to that of the AY13 strain. In contrast to the AY13 strain, which completely consumed GABA in dough within 5 h, the AY77 strain consumed no GABA under either culture condition. Dough fermentation with the dal81 mutant strain should be useful for suppression of GABA reduction in breads. Copyright © 2016 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Impact of drought on wildfires in Iberia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Russo, Ana; Gouveia, Célia M.; DaCamara, Carlos; Sousa, Pedro; Trigo, Ricardo M.

    2015-04-01

    Southern European countries, and the Iberian Peninsula (IP) in particular, have been vastly affected by summer wildfires (Trigo et al., 2013). This condition is hampered by the frequent warm and dry meteorological conditions found in summer which play a significant role in the triggering and spreading of wildfires. These meteorological conditions are also particularly important for the onset and end of drought periods, a phenomenon that has recurrently affected the IP (Gouveia et al., 2012). Moreover, the IP corresponds to one of the most sensitive areas to current and future climate change, and recent and future trends towards a dryer and warmer Mediterranean climate (Sousa et al., 2014) will tend to exacerbate these problems. The main scope of this study was to investigate the impact of drought on wildfires' burned areas in the IP. The objective was to examine the correlation between drought, as expressed by both the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) (Vicente-Serrano et al., 2010), and wildfire burned areas. The SPI and SPEI were both calculated for 4 large regions (Northwestern, Northern, Southwestern and Eastern) whose spatial patterns and seasonal fire regimes were shown to be related with constraining factors such as topography, vegetation cover and climate conditions (Trigo et al., 2013). In this study, the drought indices were determined for the time scales of 3 and 6 months for August and for 12 months in September, thus representing the summer and annual drought. The correlation between drought and burned areas during July and August was particularly significant for the 3 months SPEI and SPI relatively to the 6 and 12 time scales, which indicates that drought and fires relation is a small-size scale process. Moreover, the correlation between drought and burned areas during July and August was particularly significant for the Northern and Southwestern regions both for SPEI for 3 and 6 months in August. In the Eastern and Northwestern regions the correlation was most significant for the SPI for 3 and 6 months. Thus, the relation between wildfires and drought is better explained in the Northern and Southwestern regions by the temperature influence and on the Northwestern and Eastern by the precipitation influence. Gouveia C.M., Bastos A., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C. (2012) "Drought impacts on vegetation in the pre and post-fire events over Iberian Peninsula". Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 12, 3123-3137, 2012. Vicente-Serrano S.M., Santiago Beguería, Juan I. López-Moreno (2010) "A Multi-scalar drought index sensitive to global warming: The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index - SPEI". Journal of Climate 23: 1696-1718. Trigo R.M., Sousa P., Pereira M., Rasilla D., Gouveia C.M. (2013) "Modelling wildfire activity in Iberia with different Atmospheric Circulation Weather Types". International Journal of Climatology, DOI: 10.1002/joc.3749 Sousa PM, Trigo RM, Pereira MG, Bedia J, Gutiérrez JM, 2014. Different approaches to model future burnt area in the Iberian Peninsula. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 202, 11-25. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2014.11.018 Acknowledgements: This work was partially supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal) under project QSECA (PTDC/AAGGLO/4155/2012).

  17. Integrating biophysical and socioeconomic information for prioritizing watersheds in a Kashmir Himalayan lake: a remote sensing and GIS approach.

    PubMed

    Badar, Bazigha; Romshoo, Shakil A; Khan, M A

    2013-08-01

    Dal Lake, a cradle of Kashmiri civilization has strong linkage with socioeconomics of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. During last few decades, anthropogenic pressures in Dal Lake Catchment have caused environmental deterioration impairing, inter-alia, sustained biotic communities and water quality. The present research was an integrated impact analysis of socioeconomic and biophysical processes at the watershed level on the current status of Dal Lake using multi-sensor and multi-temporal satellite data, simulation modelling together with field data verification. Thirteen watersheds (designated as 'W1-W13') were identified and investigated for land use/land cover change detection, quantification of erosion and sediment loads and socioeconomic analysis (total population, total households, literacy rate and economic development status). All the data for the respective watersheds was integrated into the GIS environment based upon multi-criteria analysis and knowledge-based weightage system was adopted for watershed prioritization based on its factors and after carefully observing the field situation. The land use/land cover change detection revealed significant changes with a uniform trend of decreased vegetation and increased impervious surface cover. Increased erosion and sediment loadings were recorded for the watersheds corresponding to their changing land systems, with bare and agriculture lands being the major contributors. The prioritization analysis revealed that W5 > W2 > W6 > W8 > W1 ranked highest in priority and W13 > W3 > W4 > W11 > W7 under medium priority. W12 > W9 > W10 belonged to low-priority category. The integration of the biophysical and the socioeconomic environment at the watershed level using modern geospatial tools would be of vital importance for the conservation and management strategies of Dal Lake ecosystem.

  18. Direction-aware Slope Limiter for 3D Cubic Grids with Adaptive Mesh Refinement

    DOE PAGES

    Velechovsky, Jan; Francois, Marianne M.; Masser, Thomas

    2018-06-07

    In the context of finite volume methods for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, slope limiters are an effective way to suppress creation of unphysical local extrema and/or oscillations near discontinuities. We investigate properties of these limiters as applied to piecewise linear reconstructions of conservative fluid quantities in three-dimensional simulations. In particular, we are interested in linear reconstructions on Cartesian adaptively refined meshes, where a reconstructed fluid quantity at a face center depends on more than a single gradient component of the quantity. We design a new slope limiter, which combines the robustness of a minmod limiter with the accuracy ofmore » a van Leer limiter. The limiter is called Direction-Aware Limiter (DAL), because the combination is based on a principal flow direction. In particular, DAL is useful in situations where the Barth–Jespersen limiter for general meshes fails to maintain global linear functions, such as on cubic computational meshes with stencils including only faceneighboring cells. Here, we verify the new slope limiter on a suite of standard hydrodynamic test problems on Cartesian adaptively refined meshes. Lastly, we demonstrate reduced mesh imprinting; for radially symmetric problems such as the Sedov blast wave or the Noh implosion test cases, the results with DAL show better preservation of radial symmetry compared to the other standard methods on Cartesian meshes.« less

  19. Direction-aware Slope Limiter for 3D Cubic Grids with Adaptive Mesh Refinement

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Velechovsky, Jan; Francois, Marianne M.; Masser, Thomas

    In the context of finite volume methods for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, slope limiters are an effective way to suppress creation of unphysical local extrema and/or oscillations near discontinuities. We investigate properties of these limiters as applied to piecewise linear reconstructions of conservative fluid quantities in three-dimensional simulations. In particular, we are interested in linear reconstructions on Cartesian adaptively refined meshes, where a reconstructed fluid quantity at a face center depends on more than a single gradient component of the quantity. We design a new slope limiter, which combines the robustness of a minmod limiter with the accuracy ofmore » a van Leer limiter. The limiter is called Direction-Aware Limiter (DAL), because the combination is based on a principal flow direction. In particular, DAL is useful in situations where the Barth–Jespersen limiter for general meshes fails to maintain global linear functions, such as on cubic computational meshes with stencils including only faceneighboring cells. Here, we verify the new slope limiter on a suite of standard hydrodynamic test problems on Cartesian adaptively refined meshes. Lastly, we demonstrate reduced mesh imprinting; for radially symmetric problems such as the Sedov blast wave or the Noh implosion test cases, the results with DAL show better preservation of radial symmetry compared to the other standard methods on Cartesian meshes.« less

  20. Study of the Plasma Membrane Proteome Dynamics Reveals Novel Targets of the Nitrogen Regulation in Yeast.

    PubMed

    Villers, Jennifer; Savocco, Jérôme; Szopinska, Aleksandra; Degand, Hervé; Nootens, Sylvain; Morsomme, Pierre

    2017-09-01

    Yeast cells, to be able to grow on a wide variety of nitrogen sources, regulate the set of nitrogen transporters present at their plasma membrane. Such regulation relies on both transcriptional and post-translational events. Although microarray studies have identified most nitrogen-sensitive genes, nitrogen-induced post-translational regulation has only been studied for very few proteins among which the general amino acid permease Gap1. Adding a preferred nitrogen source to proline-grown cells triggers Gap1 endocytosis and vacuolar degradation in an Rsp5-Bul1/2-dependent manner. Here, we used a proteomic approach to follow the dynamics of the plasma membrane proteome after addition of a preferred nitrogen source. We identified new targets of the nitrogen regulation and four transporters of poor nitrogen sources-Put4, Opt2, Dal5, and Ptr2-that rapidly decrease in abundance. Although the kinetics is different for each transporter, we found that three of them-Put4, Dal5, and Ptr2-are endocytosed, like Gap1, in an Rsp5-dependent manner and degraded in the vacuole. Finally, we showed that Gap1 stabilization at the plasma membrane, through deletion of Bul proteins, regulates the abundance of Put4, Dal5 and Ptr2. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  1. Lower expression of CADM1 and higher expression of MAL in Merkel cell carcinomas are associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus infection and better prognosis.

    PubMed

    Iwasaki, Takeshi; Matsushita, Michiko; Nonaka, Daisuke; Nagata, Keiko; Kato, Masako; Kuwamoto, Satoshi; Murakami, Ichiro; Hayashi, Kazuhiko

    2016-02-01

    Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a clinically aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer; 80% of the cases are associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). We previously reported that MCPyV-negative MCCs have more irregular nuclei with abundant cytoplasm and significantly unfavorable outcomes than do MCPyV-positive MCCs. These results suggest that some cell adhesion or structural stabilization molecules are differently expressed depending on MCPyV infection status. Thus, we investigated the association of prognosis or MCPyV infection status in MCCs with cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1)/differentially expressed in adenocarcinoma of the lung protein 1 (DAL-1)/membrane protein, palmitoylated 3 (MPP3) tripartite complex and mal T-cell differentiation protein (MAL) expression, which play important roles in cell adhesion and oncogenesis and are related to cancer outcomes in various malignancies, to elucidate the role of these molecules. We analyzed the pathological and molecular characteristics of 26 MCPyV-positive and 15 MCPyV-negative MCCs. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that advanced age (hazard ratio [HR], 8.249; P = .007) and high CADM1 expression (HR, 5.214; P = .012) were significantly unfavorable overall survival parameters, whereas MCPyV infection (HR, 0.043, P < .001) and lower MAL expression (HR, 0.273; P = .018) were significantly favorable. On multivariate analysis, only MCPyV infection was significantly favorable for overall survival (HR, 0.04; P = .005). Hypermethylation of CADM1, DAL-1, and MAL promoters was detected in 1 of 18, 15 of 27, and 1 of 13 cases, respectively. Double immunostaining for cytokeratin 20 and CADM1, DAL-1, or MAL showed that nonneoplastic Merkel cells expressed DAL-1 and MAL but not CADM1. This study revealed that MCPyV-negative MCCs significantly expressed higher CADM1 and lower MAL than MCPyV-positive MCCs; these expression levels were markedly related to unfavorable outcomes. These data will give us important insights to develop novel molecular target therapies for MCCs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. The acidity of early pregnancy diet and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

    PubMed

    Saraf-Bank, Sahar; Tehrani, Hotav; Haghighatdoost, Fahimeh; Moosavian, Seyedeh Parisa; Azadbakht, Leila

    2017-10-03

    Recently, an increasing interest has been addressed to the acid-base imbalance in the pathogenesis of diabetes while we are not aware of any study among patients affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Therefore, the purpose of present study was to reveal the potential relation between dietary acid load (DAL) and glycemic indices, lipid profiles and GDM odds ratio among Iranian pregnant women with GDM. This case-control study (hospital-based setting) was performed in singleton fetus pregnant women; healthy (n = 263) and GDM (n = 200), aged 22-44 years, and between weeks 5-28 of pregnancy. Three-day 24-h dietary records were applied to determine usual intakes of women. The tertiles of protein to potassium ratio (Pr/K) and potential renal acid load (PRAL) were calculated and used for statistical analyses. Across tertiles of both DAL scores, fasting blood sugar, HbA1C, total cholesterol and LDL-C increased significantly. Diastolic blood pressure of participants significantly increased only across the tertiles of Pr/K ratio. Participants in the highest tertile of Pr/K and PRAL had more than 7 (OR = 7.60; 95% CI: 3.43-16.84) and 9 times (OR = 9.27; 95% CI: 4.00-21.46) increased odds of gestational diabetes mellitus, respectively. Women with higher scores of DAL were more likely to have gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  3. simDEF: definition-based semantic similarity measure of gene ontology terms for functional similarity analysis of genes.

    PubMed

    Pesaranghader, Ahmad; Matwin, Stan; Sokolova, Marina; Beiko, Robert G

    2016-05-01

    Measures of protein functional similarity are essential tools for function prediction, evaluation of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and other applications. Several existing methods perform comparisons between proteins based on the semantic similarity of their GO terms; however, these measures are highly sensitive to modifications in the topological structure of GO, tend to be focused on specific analytical tasks and concentrate on the GO terms themselves rather than considering their textual definitions. We introduce simDEF, an efficient method for measuring semantic similarity of GO terms using their GO definitions, which is based on the Gloss Vector measure commonly used in natural language processing. The simDEF approach builds optimized definition vectors for all relevant GO terms, and expresses the similarity of a pair of proteins as the cosine of the angle between their definition vectors. Relative to existing similarity measures, when validated on a yeast reference database, simDEF improves correlation with sequence homology by up to 50%, shows a correlation improvement >4% with gene expression in the biological process hierarchy of GO and increases PPI predictability by > 2.5% in F1 score for molecular function hierarchy. Datasets, results and source code are available at http://kiwi.cs.dal.ca/Software/simDEF CONTACT: ahmad.pgh@dal.ca or beiko@cs.dal.ca Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  4. Modelling catchment hydrological responses in a Himalayan Lake as a function of changing land use and land cover

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Badar, Bazigha; Romshoo, Shakil A.; Khan, M. A.

    2013-04-01

    In this paper, we evaluate the impact of changing land use/land cover (LULC) on the hydrological processes in Dal lake catchment of Kashmir Himalayas by integrating remote sensing, simulation modelling and extensive field observations. Over the years, various anthropogenic pressures in the lake catchment have significantly altered the land system, impairing, inter-alia, sustained biotic communities and water quality of the lake. The primary objective of this paper was to help a better understanding of the LULC change, its driving forces and the overall impact on the hydrological response patterns. Multi-sensor and multi-temporal satellite data for 1992 and 2005 was used for determining the spatio-temporal dynamics of the lake catchment. Geographic Information System (GIS) based simulation model namely Generalized Watershed Loading Function (GWLF) was used to model the hydrological processes under the LULC conditions. We discuss spatio-temporal variations in LULC and identify factors contributing to these variations and analyze the corresponding impacts of the change on the hydrological processes like runoff, erosion and sedimentation. The simulated results on the hydrological responses reveal that depletion of the vegetation cover in the study area and increase in impervious and bare surface cover due to anthropogenic interventions are the primary reasons for the increased runoff, erosion and sediment discharges in the Dal lake catchment. This study concludes that LULC change in the catchment is a major concern that has disrupted the ecological stability and functioning of the Dal lake ecosystem.

  5. Rationale and design of the dal-OUTCOMES trial: efficacy and safety of dalcetrapib in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Gregory G; Olsson, Anders G; Ballantyne, Christie M; Barter, Phillip J; Holme, Ingar M; Kallend, David; Leiter, Lawrence A; Leitersdorf, Eran; McMurray, John J V; Shah, Prediman K; Tardif, Jean-Claude; Chaitman, Bernard R; Duttlinger-Maddux, Regina; Mathieson, John

    2009-12-01

    Despite contemporary therapies for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), morbidity and mortality remain high. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are common among patients with ACS and may contribute to ongoing risk. Strategies that raise levels of HDL cholesterol, such as inhibition of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), might reduce risk after ACS. Dal-OUTCOMES is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to test the hypothesis that CETP inhibition with dalcetrapib reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with recent ACS. The study will randomize approximately 15,600 patients to receive daily doses of dalcetrapib 600 mg or matching placebo, beginning 4 to 12 weeks after an index ACS event. There are no prespecified boundaries for HDL cholesterol levels at entry. Other elements of care, including management of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, are to follow best evidence-based practice. The primary efficacy measure is time to first occurrence of coronary heart disease death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring hospital admission, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or atherothrombotic stroke. The trial will continue until 1,600 primary end point events have occurred, all evaluable subjects have been followed for at least 2 years, and 80% of evaluable subjects have been followed for at least 2.5 years. Dal-OUTCOMES will determine whether CETP inhibition with dalcetrapib, added to current evidence-based care, reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after ACS.

  6. Post Fire Vegetation Recovery in Portugal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouveia, Celia; Bastos, Ana; DaCamara, Carlos; Trigo, Ricardo M.

    2011-01-01

    Fires in Portugal, as in the Mediterranean ecosystems, have a complex effect on vegetation regeneration due to the different responses of vegetation to the variety of fire regimes and to the complexity of landscape structures. A thorough evaluation of vegetation recovery after fire events becomes therefore crucial in land management. In 2005, Portugal suffered a strong damage from forest fires that damaged an area of 300 000 ha of forest and shrub. This year are particularly interesting because it is associated the severe drought of 2005. The aim of the present study is to identify large burnt scars in Portugal during the 2005 fire seasons and monitoring vegetation behaviour throughout the pre and the post fire periods. The mono-parametric model developed by Gouveia et al. (2010), based on monthly values of NDVI, at the 1km×1km spatial scale, as obtained from the VEGETATION-SPOT5 instrument, from 1999 to 2009, was used.

  7. Generation of RNA in abiotic conditions.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    di Mauro, Ernesto

    Generation of RNA in abiotic conditions. Ernesto Di Mauro Dipartimento di Genetica Bi-ologia Molecolare, Universit` "Sapienza" Roma, Italy. a At least four conditions must be satisfied for the spontaneous generation of (pre)-genetic poly-mers: 1) availability of precursors that are activated enough to spontaneously polymerize. Preliminary studies showed that (a) nucleic bases and acyclonucleosides can be synthesized from formamide H2NCOH by simply heating with prebiotically available mineral catalysts [last reviewed in (1)], and that b) nucleic bases can be phosphorylated in every possible posi-tion [2'; 3'; 5'; cyclic 2',3'; cyclic 3',5' (2)]. The higher stability of the cyclic forms allows their accumulation. 2) A polymerization mechanism. A reaction showing the formation of RNA polymers starting from prebiotically plausible precursors (3',5' cyclic GMP and 3', 5'cyclic AMP) was recently reported (3). Polymerization in these conditions is thermodynamically up-hill and an equilibrium is attained that limits the maximum length of the polymer produced to about 40 nucleotides for polyG and 100 nucleotides for polyA. 3) Ligation of the synthesized oligomers. If this type of reaction could occur according to a terminal-joining mechanism and could generate canonical 3',5' phosphodiester bonds, exponential growth would be obtained of the generated oligomers. This type of reaction has been reported (4) , limited to homogeneous polyA sequences and leading to the production of polyA dimers and tetramers. What is still missing are: 4) mechanisms that provide the proof of principle for the generation of sequence complexity. We will show evidence for two mechanisms providing this proof of principle for simple complementary sequences. Namely: abiotic sequence complementary-driven terminal ligation and sequence-complementary terminal growth. In conclusion: all the steps leading to the generation of RNA in abiotic conditions are satisfied. (1) R Saladino, C Crestini, F. Ciciriello, S. Pino, G. Costanzo, E. Di Mauro. From formamide to RNA: the roles of formamide and water in the evolution of chemical information. Research In Microbiology, Special Issue on The Origin of life and Microbiology (2009) 160:441-448. (2) Costanzo, G., Saladino, R., Crestini, C., Ciciriello, F., and Di Mauro, E. Nucleoside phos-phorylation by phosphate minerals. J. Biol. Chem. (2007) 282: 16729-16735. (3) Samanta Pino, Fabiana Ciciriello, Giovanna Costanzo and E. Di Mauro, Nonenzymatic RNA Ligation in Water J. Biol. Chem. (2008), 283: 36494-36503 (4) Costanzo, G., Pino, S., Ciciriello, F., and Di Mauro, E. Generation of long RNA chains in water. J Biol Chem. (2009) 284:33206-33216.

  8. Huygens, Mackintosh, Dalí, and Medusa: Polarization engineering (and more?)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lakhtakia, Akhlesh

    2010-08-01

    As Christiaan Huygens must have felt in his bones but could not have articulated with a mathematical theory, engineering of the polarization state of light is easily accomplished with anisotropic materials. Examine a crystal to see that its capabilities are quite restricted by its rigid Cartesian morphology reminiscent of the straitened designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. But let loose the genius of Salvador Dalí to transform straight rods into the flowing tresses of Medusa, and you begin to appreciate what all can be done to the polarization state by nanoengineering morphology such that it is locally cartesian but globally curvilinear. If you exclaim "What rot!," a few simple examples may suffice to convince you that engineering of both the polarization state and the operating frequency band can be accomplished by nanoengineering the morphology of complex substances called sculptured thin films (STFs). These nanoengineered metamaterials offer other promises too.

  9. Functional analysis of TamA, a coactivator of nitrogen-regulated gene expression in Aspergillus nidulans.

    PubMed

    Small, A J; Todd, R B; Zanker, M C; Delimitrou, S; Hynes, M J; Davis, M A

    2001-06-01

    The tam A gene of Aspergillus nidulans encodes a 739-amino acid protein with similarity to Uga35p/Dal81p/DurLp of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been proposed that TamA functions as a co-activator of AreA, the major nitrogen regulatory protein in A. nidulans. Because AreA functions as a transcriptional activator under nitrogen-limiting conditions, we investigated whether TamA was also present in the nucleus. We found that a GFP-TamA fusion protein was predominantly localised to the nucleus in the presence and absence of ammonium, and that AreA was not required for this distribution. As the predicted DNA-binding domain of TamA is not essential for function, we have used a number of approaches to further define functionally important regions. We have cloned the tamA gene of A. oryzae and compared its functional and sequence characteristics with those of A. nidulans tamA and S. cerevisiae UGA35/DAL81/DURL. The Aspergillus homologues are highly conserved and functionally interchangeable, whereas the S. cerevisiae gene does not complement a tamA mutant when expressed in A. nidulans. Uga35p/Dal81p/DurLp was also found to be unable to recruit AreA. The sequence changes in a number of tamA mutant alleles were determined, and altered versions of TamA were tested for tamA complementation and interaction with AreA. Changes in most regions of TamA appeared to destroy its function, suggesting that the overall conformation of the protein may be critical for its activity.

  10. 13 CFR 120.312 - DAL-1 use of proceeds and other program conditions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... assistance are available from another Federal source; or (2) For supportive services (expenses incurred by a... have a conflict of interest if one or more of its Associates is an Associate of the Lender. ...

  11. Sustainability Statement and Policy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 2009

    2009-01-01

    This article presents nine resources that focus on environmental education and sustainability. These include: (1) "Sustainability Statement and Policy," Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2009, which is available at http://office.sustainability.dal.ca/Governance; (2) "Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate…

  12. Sensory Acceptability of Iron-Fortified Red Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Dal.

    PubMed

    Podder, Rajib; Khan, Shaan M; Tar'an, Bunyamin; Tyler, Robert T; Henry, Carol J; Jalal, Chowdhury; Shand, Phyllis J; Vandenberg, Albert

    2018-03-01

    Panelists in Saskatoon, Canada (n = 45) and Dhaka, Bangladesh (n = 98) participated in sensory evaluations of the sensory properties of both cooked and uncooked dehulled red lentil dal fortified with FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O, NaFeEDTA or FeSO 4 ·H 2 O at fortificant Fe concentrations of 800, 1,600 (both cooked and uncooked), or 2,800 ppm. Appearance, odor, and overall acceptability of cooked and uncooked samples were rated using a 9-point hedonic scale (1 = dislike extremely to 9 = like extremely). Taste and texture were rated for the cooked samples prepared as typical south Asian lentil meals. Significant differences in sensory quality were observed among all uncooked and cooked samples at both locations. Overall, scores for all sensory attributes and acceptability of uncooked lentil decreased with increasing concentration of Fe in the fortificant; however, Fe fortification (particularly with NaFeEDTA) had small effects on acceptability. Panelists from Saskatoon provided a wider range of scores than those from Bangladesh for all attributes of cooked lentil. Overall, sensory evaluation of Fe fortification using NaFeEDTA minimally affected consumer perception of color, taste, texture, odor, and overall acceptability of cooked lentil. Reliability estimates (Cronbach's alpha [CA]) indicated that consumer scores were generally consistent for all attributes of all lentil samples (mean CA > 0.80). NaFeEDTA was found to be the most suitable Fe fortificant for lentil based on consumer acceptability. Consumption of 45 to 50 g of NaFeEDTA-fortified lentil (fortificant Fe concentration of 1,600 ppm) per day meets the estimated average requirements (EARs) of Fe for humans (10.8 to 29.4 mg). Iron fortification of dehulled lentil dal may change organoleptic attributes that can influence consumer acceptability. Sensory evaluation by consumers helps to determine the effect on appearance, odor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability of fortified lentils. In this study, consumer acceptability was evaluated with panelists who consume lentil regularly. Panelists provided significantly different scores for 5 sensory attributes for 10 uncooked and 3 cooked lentil samples. Panelists reliably preferred NaFeEDTA as the most suitable Fe fortificant for dehulled lentils for 5 attributes. Overall, lentil dal fortified with NaFeEDTA can offer a simple and low-cost solution to human health problems associated with iron-related malnutrition. © 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.

  13. [Assessment of a project for integrated management of care given to patients with type-2 diabetes in the Local Health Authority 21 of Legnago (Veneto Region, Northern Italy) in the period 2010-2012].

    PubMed

    Marcon, Alessandro; Vaona, Alberto; Rigon, Giulio; Carazzolo, Marco; Del Zotti, Franco; Girotto, Sandro; Marafetti, Claudio

    2016-01-01

    OBIETTIVI: descrivere, nella ASL 21 di Legnago (VR), l'andamento di alcuni indicatori sanitari tra il 2009, anno precedente all'avvio di un progetto triennale per la gestione integrata dell'assistenza al paziente con diabete mellito di tipo 2, e il 2012, ultimo anno del progetto. DISEGNO: studio longitudinale trasversale ripetuto. SETTING E PARTECIPANTI: tutti i pazienti diabetici di tipo 2 della ASL 21, identificati nei database aziendali (in base a esenzioni per patologia, accessi al servizio diabetologico, consumo di farmaci antidiabetici e strisce per la determinazione della glicemia) e nelle cartelle cliniche dei medici di famiglia. PRINCIPALI MISURE DI OUTCOME: numero di test diagnostici e di follow-up erogati, consumo di farmaci, prestazioni specialistiche, accessi al pronto soccorso, ricoveri e mortalità. RISULTATI: nonostante un calo generalizzato (-3,1%) nei test erogati dalla ASL 21 ai suoi assistititi nel periodo 2009-2012, l'analisi ha documentato un marcato aumento per gli esami previsti nella gestione del diabete, quali curve da carico glicemico (+104,3%), emoglobina glicata (+19,0%) e microalbuminuria (+296,1%). I soggetti identificati come diabetici sono aumentati da 8.084 nel 2009 (5,2%) a 9.221 nel 2012 (5,9%). Sono stati osservati aumenti nella prevalenza di pazienti visitati presso un servizio diabetologico (dal 22,6% al 39,0%), nonché negli utilizzatori di metformina (dal 28,0% al 37,5%), insuline (dal 13,5% al 18,3%) e incretine (dall'1,4% al 9,0%). Il consumo di sulfaniluree è, invece, calato (dal 49,9% al 40,8%), come anche l'erogazione di alcune prestazioni specialistiche, gli accessi al pronto soccorso e i ricoveri, mentre il tasso di mortalità è rimasto stabile (29,6 decessi x1.000/anno). CONCLUSIONE: durante il periodo di implementazione del progetto sembra essersi verificato un aumento della sensibilità diagnostica e una maggiore presa in carico del paziente diabetico. Anche se la natura osservazionale dello studio non consente di dimostrare una relazione causa-effetto, i risultati sembrano supportare l'ipotesi che la gestione integrata della patologia migliori l'appropriatezza dell'assistenza.

  14. Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes, Oligohydramnios, and Pulmonary Hypoplasia

    PubMed Central

    Chock, Valerie Y.; Van Meurs, Krisa P.; Hintz, Susan R.; Ehrenkranz, Richard A.; Lemons, James A.; Kendrick, Douglas E.; Stevenson, David K.

    2008-01-01

    We sought to determine if inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) administered to preterm infants with premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), oligohydramnios, and pulmonary hypoplasia improved oxygenation, survival, or other clinical outcomes. Data were analyzed from infants with suspected pulmonary hypoplasia, oligohydramnios, and PPROM enrolled in the National Institute of Child Health and Development Neonatal Research Network Preemie Inhaled Nitric Oxide (PiNO) trial, where patients were randomized to receive placebo (oxygen) or iNO at 5 to 10 ppm. Outcome variables assessed were PaO2 response, mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Twelve of 449 infants in the PiNO trial met criteria. Six infants received iNO and six received placebo. The iNO group had a mean increase in PaO2 of 39±50 mm Hg versus a mean decrease of 11±15 mm Hg in the control group. Mortality was 33% versus 67%, BPD (2/5) 40% versus (2/2) 100%, and severe IVH or PVL (1/5) 20% versus (1/2) 50% in the iNO and control groups, respectively. None of these changes were statistically significant. Review of a limited number of cases from a large multicenter trial suggests that iNO use in the setting of PPROM, oligohydramnios, and suspected pulmonary hypoplasia improves oxygenation and may decrease the rate of BPD and death without increasing severe IVH or PVL. However, the small sample size precludes definitive conclusions. Further studies are required to determine if iNO is of benefit in this specific patient population. PMID:19067285

  15. Engineering and Language Discourse Collaboration: Practice Realities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Harran, Marcelle

    2011-01-01

    This article describes a situated engineering project at a South African HE institution which is underpinned by collaboration between Applied Language Studies (DALS) and Mechanical Engineering. The collaboration requires language practitioners and engineering experts to negotiate and collaborate on academic literacies practices, discourse…

  16. L1-norm locally linear representation regularization multi-source adaptation learning.

    PubMed

    Tao, Jianwen; Wen, Shiting; Hu, Wenjun

    2015-09-01

    In most supervised domain adaptation learning (DAL) tasks, one has access only to a small number of labeled examples from target domain. Therefore the success of supervised DAL in this "small sample" regime needs the effective utilization of the large amounts of unlabeled data to extract information that is useful for generalization. Toward this end, we here use the geometric intuition of manifold assumption to extend the established frameworks in existing model-based DAL methods for function learning by incorporating additional information about the target geometric structure of the marginal distribution. We would like to ensure that the solution is smooth with respect to both the ambient space and the target marginal distribution. In doing this, we propose a novel L1-norm locally linear representation regularization multi-source adaptation learning framework which exploits the geometry of the probability distribution, which has two techniques. Firstly, an L1-norm locally linear representation method is presented for robust graph construction by replacing the L2-norm reconstruction measure in LLE with L1-norm one, which is termed as L1-LLR for short. Secondly, considering the robust graph regularization, we replace traditional graph Laplacian regularization with our new L1-LLR graph Laplacian regularization and therefore construct new graph-based semi-supervised learning framework with multi-source adaptation constraint, which is coined as L1-MSAL method. Moreover, to deal with the nonlinear learning problem, we also generalize the L1-MSAL method by mapping the input data points from the input space to a high-dimensional reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) via a nonlinear mapping. Promising experimental results have been obtained on several real-world datasets such as face, visual video and object. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Application of F⁺RNA Coliphages as Source Tracking Enteric Viruses on Parsley and Leek Using RT-PCR.

    PubMed

    Shahrampour, Dina; Yavarmanesh, Masoud; Najafi, Mohammad Bagher Habibi; Mohebbi, Mohebbat

    2015-12-01

    The objective of this study was to identify sources of fecal contamination in leek and parsley, by using four different F(+)RNA coliphage genogroups (IV, I indicate animal fecal contamination and II, III indicate human fecal contamination). Three different concentrations (10(2), 10(4), 10(6) pfu/ml) of MS2 coliphage were inoculated on the surface of parsley and leek samples for detection of phage recovery efficiency among two methods of elution concentration (PEG-precipitation and Ultracentrifugation) by performing double agar layer (DAL) assay in three replications. Highest recovery of MS2 was observed in PEG method and in 10(6) inoculation concentration. Accordingly, the PEG method was used for washing and isolation of potentially contaminated phages of 30 collected samples (15 samples from the market and 15 samples from the farm). The final solutions of PEG method were tested for the enumeration of plaques by DAL assay. Total RNA was then extracted from recovered phages, and RT-PCR was performed by using four primer sets I, II, III, and IV. Incidence of F(+)RNA coliphages was observed in 12/15 (80 %) and 10/15 (66/6 %) of samples were obtained from farm and market, respectively, using both DAL and RT-PCR test methods. Different genotypes (I, II, and IV) of F(+)RNA coliphages were found in farm samples, while only genotype I was detected in market samples by using the primer sets. Due to the higher frequency of genotype I and IV, the absence of genotype III, and also the low frequency of genotype II, it is concluded that the contamination of vegetable (parsley and leek) in Neyshabour, Iran is most likely originated from animal sources.

  18. Survey of Two New (Kai 1 and Kai 2) and Other Blood Groups in Dogs of North America.

    PubMed

    Euler, C C; Lee, J H; Kim, H Y; Raj, K; Mizukami, K; Giger, U

    2016-09-01

    Based upon serology, >10 canine blood group systems have been reported. We surveyed dogs for dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1 and 2 new blood types (Kai 1 and Kai 2), and some samples also were screened for Dal and DEA 3, 4, and 7. Blood samples provided by owners, breeders, animal blood banks, and clinical laboratories were typed for DEA 1 by an immunochromatographic strip technique with a monoclonal antibody and analysis of band intensity. Both new antigens, the Dal and other DEAs (except DEA 7 by tube method), were assessed by a gel column method with either monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. The same gel column method was applied for alloantibody detection. Of 503 dogs typed, 59.6% were DEA 1+ with 4% weakly, 10% moderately, and 45.6% strongly DEA 1+. Regarding Kai 1 and Kai 2, 94% were Kai 1+/Kai 2-, 5% were Kai 1-/Kai 2- and 1% were Kai 1-/Kai 2+, but none were Kai 1+/Kai 2+. There was no relationship between Kai 1/Kai 2 and other blood types tested. Plasma from DEA 1-, Kai 1-, Kai 2- dogs, or some combination of these contained no detectable alloantibodies against DEA 1 and Kai 1 or Kai, respectively. The new blood types, called Kai 1 and Kai 2, are unrelated to DEA 1, 3, 4, and 7 and Dal. Kai 1+/Kai 2- dogs were most commonly found in North America. The clinical relevance of Kai 1 and Kai 2 in canine transfusion medicine still needs to be elucidated. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

  19. The Programs of Japan in the Philippines

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1944-07-29

    regarding the appointment and territorial- ju - risdiction of notaries public. The measure provides that judges of courts of the first instance and the...8217 -i 1.):’ila-nl: (So aI-Te. Ten) , :oV:,.or Chiof of the Publ:ciity Deart,.-ment of the Ihi ’ - V a2ds, oh t.,ippine Brao]ih of the Ihunr!kin6 Ju ...savings of Fili-pinos has increased from 10 pesos to jUS under 20 pesos (1l/5/43 Tok. Jap.) . c C N M I C FINANCE ECiANGE At the Manila note exc’hIange

  20. 78 FR 6202 - Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing Company

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-30

    ... Descent (If INITIATE Required). Passenger Oxygen Switch.... ON Thrust Levers CLOSE Speed Brakes FLIGHT... Engineer, Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM-130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind... regard. Request To Correct AFM Reference to Target Speed Delta Airlines (DAL) asked that the target speed...

  1. Micro-CT study of the anatomy of the Leafhopper Homalodisca vitripennis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A Digital Anatomy Library, DAL, was produced to the anatomy of the glassy-winged sharpshooter adult, Homalodisca vitripennis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), vector of bacteria which cause Pierce’s disease of grapevines. The insect anatomy was elucidated using a high resolution Bruker Skyscan 1172 micro t...

  2. 75 FR 39814 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-200 and -300, and Model A340-200, -300, -500 and -600...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-13

    ... Delta Air Lines (DAL) supports the intent of the NPRM. Request To Refer to Updated Revisions of Service... work `on-wing,' operators using PALL Service Bulletin 6753-20-2, Issue 4, dated November 21, 2009, for...

  3. Enhancing Civilian Protection in Peace Operations: Insights from Africa

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-09-01

    The military assessment of the situation as of 17 April 1994,” Dal- laire (UNAMIR) to Baril (New York, United Nations), April 17, 1994, paragraph 17...Dallaire to Baril , paragraph 19. 75 Jeremy M. Weinstein, Inside Rebellion: The Politics of Insurgent Violence (Cam- bridge: Cambridge University Press

  4. Peer Review Undergoing Revitalization

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sawchuk, Stephen

    2009-01-01

    Established in the 142,000-student Montgomery County, Maryland, district in 1999, peer assistance and review (PAR)--or "peer review," as it is occasionally called--is actually an old idea. In 1981, the then-president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, Dal Lawrence, helped create the first PAR program. Almost 30 years later, only a…

  5. Climate variability and Port wine quality

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouveia, Celia; Liberato, Margarida L. R.; Trigo, Ricardo M.; Dacamara, Carlos

    2010-05-01

    Recent warming trends for Portugal have been found to be steepest in winter and spring and more pronounced for minimum than for maximum values of temperature (Miranda et al, 2002). These trends and associated changes in temperature and precipitation regimes may exert strong influences on agriculture systems. For instance, high values of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index have been shown to significantly reduce precipitation over Iberia and therefore induce low yield wheat crops in Portugal (Gouveia and Trigo, 2006). Port wine is produced from grapes grown in selected areas of the Douro valley, the so-called Região Demarcada do Douro, the first wine-producing region of the world (dating from 1758). A vintage wine is made from grapes that were grown and harvested in a single specified year and is classified as such because of the above average quality, a status that is attributed by Port houses in their best years. The Douro region presents distinctive climatic, topographic and soil characteristics. While the latest factors are fixed in time, the former may considerably change from year to year, exposing the Port wine productions to a large risk associated to interannual and intra-seasonal climatic variations. It is therefore to be expected that high quality wines are generally associated to optimum climatic conditions. In this work we have performed an analysis of the distinct behaviour of several meteorological fields in vintage versus non-vintage years. The relative importance of maximum and minimum temperature, precipitation and frost days is assessed for each individual month of the vegetative cycle and their importance to a high quality wine year is evaluated. Composites of 500 hPa geopotential height and sea level pressure fields over the Euro Atlantic region are also compared for vintage and non-vintage years. Results reveal a strong dependence of vintage production on maximum temperature and precipitation during spring and summer (the growing season), suggesting that this type of analysis may be used in developing a tool that may help anticipating a vintage year, based on already available seasonal climate outlooks. Célia Gouveia and Ricardo M. Trigo. "Influence of climate variability on wheat production in Portugal". GeoENV2006- 6th International Conference on Geostatistics for Environmental Applications, Rhodes, October, 25-27, 2006 Miranda, P.M.A., F. Coelho, A. R. Tomé, M. A Valente., A. Carvalho, C. Pires, H. O. Pires, V. C. Cabrinha and C. Ramalho (2002) "20th Century Portuguese Climate and Climate Scenarios", in Santos, F.D., K Forbes and R. Moita (eds) Climate Change in Portugal: Scenarios, Impacts and Adptation Measures", 27-83. Gradiva

  6. Formation and growth rates of atmospheric nanoparticles: four years of observations at two West Siberian stations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arshinov, Mikhail Yu.; Belan, Boris D.; Davydov, Denis K.; Kozlov, Artem V.; Arshinova, Victoria

    2015-04-01

    In spite of fact that the first report on the new particle formation (NPF) itself was done by John Aitken more than one century ago (Aitken, 1898), a phenomenon of NPF bursts taken place in the atmosphere was discovered not very long ago. Nevertheless, to date it is known that they may occur quite often in a variety of environments (Kulmala et al., 2004; Hirsikko et al., 2011). Siberia occupies a vast area covered by forests, but the comprehensive data on burst frequency, as well as on formation and growth rates of freshly nucleated particles in this key region are still lacking. Continuous measurements of aerosol size distribution carried out in recent years at two West Siberian stations (TOR-station - 56o28'41"N, 85o03'15"E; Fonovaya Observatory - 56o25'07"N, 84o04'27"E) allowed this gap in data to be filled up. Analysis of the size spectra classified in accordance with criteria proposed by Dal Maso et al. (2005) and Hammed et al. (2007) enabled a conclusion to be drawn that NPF events in Wets Siberia are more often observed during spring (from March to May) and early autumn (secondary frequency peak in September). On average, particle formation bursts took place on 23-28 % of all days. Such a seasonal pattern of the NPF occurrence is very similar to one observed at SMEAR II Station (Hyytiälä, Finland; Dal Maso et al. 2005, 2007). Formation rates (FR) of particles with diameters below 25 nm varied in a wide range from 0.1 to 10 cm-3 s-1. Mean values of FR for the entire period of observations were 1.7 cm-3s-1 (median = 1.13 cm-3 s-1) at TOR-station and 0.88 cm-3 s-1 (median = 0.69 cm-3 s-1) at Fonovaya Observatory. Enhanced values of FR are usually observed from spring to autumn. Mean growth rates of observed at TOR-station and Fonovaya Observatory were 6.5 nm h-1 (median = 5.0 nm h-1) and 8.3 nm h-1 (median = 6.4 nm h-1), respectively. This work was supported by the Branch of Geology, Geophysics and Mining Sciences of RAS (Program No. 5); State contracts of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia No. 14.604.21.0100, (RFMTFIBBB210290) and No. 14.613.21.0013 (RFMEFI61314X0013); and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No. 14-05-00590). Dal Maso, M., Kulmala, M., Riipinen, I., Wagner, R., Hussein, T., Aalto, P. P., and Lehtinen, K. E. J. (2005). Formation and growth of fresh atmospheric aerosols: eight years of aerosol size distribution data from SMEAR II, Hyytiälä, Finland, Boreal Environ. Res. 10, 323-336. Dal Maso, M., Sogacheva, L., Aalto, P., Riipinen, I., Komppula, M., Tunved, P., Korhonen, L., Suur-uski, V., Hirsikko, A., Kurten, T., Kerminen, V., Lihavainen, H., Viisanen, Y., Hansson, H., and Kulmala, M. (2007). Aerosol size distribution measurements at four Nordic field stations: identification, analysis and trajectories analysis of new particle formation bursts, Tellus B 59, 350-361. Hamed, A., Joutsensaari, J., Mikkonen, S., Sogacheva, L., Dal Maso, M., Kulmala, M., Cavalli F., Fuzzi S., Facchini, M. C., Decesari, S., Mircea, M., Lehtinen, K. E. J., and Laaksonen, A. (2007). Nucleation and growth of new particles in Po Valley, Italy, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 7, 355-376. Hirsikko, A., Nieminen, T., Gagné, S., Lehtipalo, K., Manninen, H. E., Ehn, M., Hõrrak, U., Kerminen, V.-M., Laakso, L., McMurry, P. H., Mirme, A., Mirme, S., Petäjä, T., Tammet, H., Vakkari, V., Vana, M., and Kulmala, M. (2011). Atmospheric ions and nucleation: a review of observations, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 11, 767-798. Kulmala, M., Vehkamäki, H., Petäjä, T., Dal Maso, M., Lauri A., Kerminen, V.-M., Birmili, W., and McMurry, P. H. (2004a) Formation and growth rates of ultrafine atmospheric particles: a review of observations, J. Aerosol Science 35, 143-176.

  7. 77 FR 39488 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-03

    ... entry and replace with ``Operations Management Branch, Attn: DAL-2B, Defense Intelligence Agency, 200.... * Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, 2nd Floor, Suite... Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, ``Federal...

  8. 13 CFR 120.310 - What assistance is available for the disabled?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... the disabled? 120.310 Section 120.310 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Special Purpose Loans Disabled Assistance Loan Program (dal) § 120.310 What assistance is available for the disabled? Section 7(a)(10) of the Act authorizes SBA to guarantee or make direct loans to...

  9. 13 CFR 120.310 - What assistance is available for the disabled?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... the disabled? 120.310 Section 120.310 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Special Purpose Loans Disabled Assistance Loan Program (dal) § 120.310 What assistance is available for the disabled? Section 7(a)(10) of the Act authorizes SBA to guarantee or make direct loans to...

  10. 13 CFR 120.310 - What assistance is available for the disabled?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... the disabled? 120.310 Section 120.310 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Special Purpose Loans Disabled Assistance Loan Program (dal) § 120.310 What assistance is available for the disabled? Section 7(a)(10) of the Act authorizes SBA to guarantee or make direct loans to...

  11. 13 CFR 120.310 - What assistance is available for the disabled?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... the disabled? 120.310 Section 120.310 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Special Purpose Loans Disabled Assistance Loan Program (dal) § 120.310 What assistance is available for the disabled? Section 7(a)(10) of the Act authorizes SBA to guarantee or make direct loans to...

  12. 13 CFR 120.310 - What assistance is available for the disabled?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... the disabled? 120.310 Section 120.310 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Special Purpose Loans Disabled Assistance Loan Program (dal) § 120.310 What assistance is available for the disabled? Section 7(a)(10) of the Act authorizes SBA to guarantee or make direct loans to...

  13. Moving beyond "Bookish Knowledge": Using Film-Based Assignments to Promote Deep Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Olson, Joann S.; Autry, Linda; Moe, Jeffry

    2016-01-01

    This article investigates the effectiveness of a film-based assignment given to adult learners in a graduate-level group counseling class. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four students; data analysis suggested film-based assignments may promote deep approaches to learning (DALs). Participants indicated the assignment helped them…

  14. The Effects of a Museum Art Program on the Self-Concept of Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kaufman, Ryan; Rinehardt, Eric; Hine, Hank; Wilkinson, Berney; Tush, Peter; Mead, Bethany; Fernandez, Francisco

    2014-01-01

    Research suggests that art programs have positive therapeutic effects on children, including improved self-concept. This pretest/posttest intervention study examined changes in self-concept in children (N = 176) who participated in an art program at the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Results indicated significant, positive increases in…

  15. Relative bioavailability of iron in Bangledeshi traditional meals prepared with iron-fortified lentil dal

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Due to low Fe bioavailability and low consumption per meal, lentil must be fortified to contribute significant bioavailable Fe in the Bangladeshi diet. Moreover, since red lentil is dehulled prior to consumption, opportunity exists at this point to fortify lentil with Fe. Thus, in the present study...

  16. The DalHouses: 100 new photographs of houses with ratings of typicality, familiarity, and degree of similarity to faces.

    PubMed

    Filliter, Jillian H; Glover, Jacqueline M; McMullen, Patricia A; Salmon, Joshua P; Johnson, Shannon A

    2016-03-01

    Houses have often been used as comparison stimuli in face-processing studies because of the many attributes they share with faces (e.g., distinct members of a basic category, consistent internal features, mono-orientation, and relative familiarity). Despite this, no large, well-controlled databases of photographs of houses that have been developed for research use currently exist. To address this gap, we photographed 100 houses and carefully edited these images. We then asked 41 undergraduate students (18 to 31 years of age) to rate each house on three dimensions: typicality, likeability, and face-likeness. The ratings had a high degree of face validity, and analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between typicality and likeability. We anticipate that this stimulus set (i.e., the DalHouses) and the associated ratings will prove useful to face-processing researchers by minimizing the effort required to acquire stimuli and allowing for easier replication and extension of studies. The photographs of all 100 houses and their ratings data can be obtained at http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1279430.

  17. The effect of carbohydrate mouth rinse on performance, biochemical and psychophysiological variables during a cycling time trial: a crossover randomized trial.

    PubMed

    Ferreira, Amanda M J; Farias-Junior, Luiz F; Mota, Thaynan A A; Elsangedy, Hassan M; Marcadenti, Aline; Lemos, Telma M A M; Okano, Alexandre H; Fayh, Ana P T

    2018-01-01

    The hypothesis of the central effect of carbohydrate mouth rinse (CMR) on performance improvement in a fed state has not been established, and its psychophysiological responses have not yet been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CMR in athletes fed state on performance, biochemical and psychophysiological responses compared to ad libitum water intake. Eleven trained male cyclists completed a randomized, crossover trial, which consisted of a 30 km cycle ergometer at self-selected intensity and in a fed state. Subjects were under random influence of the following interventions: CMR with a 6% unflavored maltodextrin solution; mouth rinsing with a placebo solution (PMR); drinking "ad libitum" (DAL). The time for completion of the test (min), heart rate (bpm) and power (watts), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), affective response, blood glucose (mg/dL) and lactate (mmol/DL), were evaluated before, during and immediately after the test, while insulin (uIL/mL), cortisol (μg/dL) and creatine kinase (U/L) levels were measured before, immediately after the test and 30 min after the test. Time for completion of the 30 km trial did not differ significantly among CMR, PMR and DAL interventions (means = 54.5 ± 2.9, 54.7 ± 2.9 and 54.5 ± 2.5 min, respectively; p  = 0.82). RPE and affective response were higher in DAL intervention ( p  < 0.01). Glucose, insulin, cortisol and creatine kinase responses showed no significant difference among interventions. In a fed state, CMR has not caused metabolic changes, and it has not improved physical performance compared to ad libitum water intake, but demonstrated a possible central effect. ReBec registration number: RBR-4vpwkg. Available in http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/?q=RBR-4vpwkg.

  18. AmeriFlux US-Seg Sevilleta grassland

    DOE Data Explorer

    Litvak, Marcy [University of New Mexico

    2016-01-01

    This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Seg Sevilleta grassland. Site Description - The Sevilleta Desert Grassland site is located within the McKenzie Flats area of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), central New Mexico. Historically, this area has been used for livestock grazing; however, the McKenzie Flats have not been grazed since 1973 and the effects of this previous grazing are considered negligible for the purposes of this study. As the name suggests, McKenzie Flats is an extensive (~130 km2), nearly flat, mixed-species desert grassland bounded on the east by Los Pinos Mountains and on the west by the Rio Grande.

  19. AmeriFlux US-Ses Sevilleta shrubland

    DOE Data Explorer

    Litvak, Marcy [University of New Mexico

    2016-01-01

    This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Ses Sevilleta shrubland. Site Description - The Sevilleta Desert Shrubland site is located within the McKenzie Flats area of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), central New Mexico. Historically, this area has been used for livestock grazing; however, the McKenzie Flats have not been grazed since 1973 and the effects of this previous grazing are considered negligible for the purposes of this study. As the name suggests, McKenzie Flats is an extensive (~130 km2), nearly flat, mixed-species desert grassland bounded on the east by Los Pinos Mountains and on the west by the Rio Grande.

  20. College Seniors' Plans for Graduate School: Do Deep Approaches Learning and Holland Academic Environments Matter?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rocconi, Louis M.; Ribera, Amy K.; Nelson Laird, Thomas F.

    2015-01-01

    This study examines the extent to which college seniors' plans for graduate school are related to their tendency to engage in deep approaches to learning (DAL) and their academic environments (majors) as classified by Holland type. Using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement, we analyzed responses from over 116,000 seniors attending…

  1. Quantitative trait loci affecting oil content, oil composition, and other agronomically important traits in Oat (Avena sativa L.)

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Groat oil content and composition are important determinants of oat quality. We investigated these traits in a population of 146 recombinant inbred lines from a cross between 'Dal' (high oil) and 'Exeter' (low oil). A linkage map consisting of 475 DArT markers spanning 1271.8 cM across 40 linkage gr...

  2. Logistics Composite Model (LCOM) Workbook

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1976-06-01

    nc;-J to e UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Dots Ew.ervol. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMPLETING FORM I...Controlling Office) 15. SECURITY CLASS. (of this report) Unclassified 158. DECLASSIFICATIONDOWNGRADING SCHEDULE 16. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (of this Report...ID SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Des Entered) K7 UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE(Whon Dal Entore o l Logic networks

  3. Identifying biologically relevant differences between metagenomic communities.

    PubMed

    Parks, Donovan H; Beiko, Robert G

    2010-03-15

    Metagenomics is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples. Taxonomic and functional differences between metagenomic samples can highlight the influence of ecological factors on patterns of microbial life in a wide range of habitats. Statistical hypothesis tests can help us distinguish ecological influences from sampling artifacts, but knowledge of only the P-value from a statistical hypothesis test is insufficient to make inferences about biological relevance. Current reporting practices for pairwise comparative metagenomics are inadequate, and better tools are needed for comparative metagenomic analysis. We have developed a new software package, STAMP, for comparative metagenomics that supports best practices in analysis and reporting. Examination of a pair of iron mine metagenomes demonstrates that deeper biological insights can be gained using statistical techniques available in our software. An analysis of the functional potential of 'Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis' in two enhanced biological phosphorus removal metagenomes identified several subsystems that differ between the A.phosphatis stains in these related communities, including phosphate metabolism, secretion and metal transport. Python source code and binaries are freely available from our website at http://kiwi.cs.dal.ca/Software/STAMP CONTACT: beiko@cs.dal.ca Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

  4. Dal "San Marco" al "Vega". (English Title: From "San Marco" to Vega)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Savi, E.

    2017-10-01

    Apart from the two superpowers, among the other countries Italy has had an important role in astronautics. The roots of Italian astronautics' history runs deep in the hottest years of the Cold War, and it had its first remarkable achievement in the San Marco project..after years of advanced technologies testing, they achieved European cooperation and built VEGA, the current Arianespace light launcher.

  5. Microcirculatory Impairment Following Focal and Global Cerebral Ischemia in the Rat.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-02-08

    THI 4 AGE (Won Dal. BIer SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Data Entered) anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen ...ibuprofen, flurbiprofen ), prostacyclin, antiserum against presumptive factor- Vill antigen, glass-wool filtration of blood, and alteration of arterial...used in these studies were indomethacin (WSD L-590, 226), ibuprofen (Upjohn U-IS, 573), flurbiprofen (Upjohn U-27, 182), and prostacyclin (Upjohn U

  6. Environmental Assessment Nellis Air Force Base Pipeline Project Nevada

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-03-01

    AVBNUB I~ :~ I_L"’l__ ’~ ,. SEC. Lf SEC. l6 L"’-----~­ CAREY AVBNUB ~: ~I PROPOSED !I" ..ET FUrL~E - - - - BASE IJOUoiDARY ~E...JNG FAaun-, WORK ORDER No. JJI4’i18, MAWtm No. JOJO --A-101 lHIU DRAW«J No. JOJO --A-127. (LAST REVISION DAlED .U..Y 27. 2004) SHITTI Of2

  7. [A battle won: the elimination of poliomyelitis in Cuba].

    PubMed

    Chaple, Enrique Beldarraín

    2015-01-01

    Poliomyelitis was introduced in Cuba in the late nineteenth century by American residents in Isla de Pinos. The first epidemics occurred in 1906 and 1909 and increased in intensity between 1930 and 1958. The scope of the paper is to reconstruct the history of the disease and its epidemics in Cuba prior to 1961, the first National Polio Vaccination Campaign (1962) and its results, as well as analyze the ongoing annual vaccination campaigns through to certified elimination of the disease (1994). The logical historical method was used and archival documents and statistics from the Ministry of Health on morbidity and mortality through 2000 were reviewed. Gross morbidity and mortality rates were calculated and interviews with key figures were conducted.

  8. Effects of water quality and trophic status on helminth infections in the cyprinid fish, Schizothorax niger Heckel, 1838 from three lakes in the Kashmir Himalayas.

    PubMed

    Zargar, U R; Yousuf, A R; Chishti, M Z; Ahmed, F; Bashir, H; Ahmed, F

    2012-03-01

    Water quality greatly influences the population density of aquatic biota, including parasites. In order to evaluate the relationship between fish parasites and water quality in Kashmir Himalayas, we assessed helminth parasite densities in Schizothorax niger Heckel, 1838 (an endemic cyprinid fish of Kashmir) from three lakes, namely Anchar, Manasbal and Dal, which reflected the varied stages of eutrophication. The overall prevalence of helminth infections was higher in the hypertrophic Anchar Lake (prevalence = 18.6%) compared to Manasbal Lake, which was the least eutrophied (prevalence = 6.4%). Furthermore, mean prevalence of monoxenous and heteroxenous parasites was higher in lakes containing higher levels of water degradation (Anchar and Dal). The mean number of helminth species per fish host was the highest in the hypertrophic lake (1.3 ± 0.3) in comparison to the least eutrophic lake (0.2 ± 1.5). Variability of calculated infection indices (prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance) revealed that helminth parasite composition in the fish was affected by the lakes' environmental stress (degraded water quality). Therefore, data on the density of helminth parasites in fish can provide supplementary information on the pollution status of a water body.

  9. Depth Perception and the History of Three-Dimensional Art: Who Produced the First Stereoscopic Images?

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The history of the expression of three-dimensional structure in art can be traced from the use of occlusion in Palaeolithic cave paintings, through the use of shadow in classical art, to the development of perspective during the Renaissance. However, the history of the use of stereoscopic techniques is controversial. Although the first undisputed stereoscopic images were presented by Wheatstone in 1838, it has been claimed that two sketches by Jacopo Chimenti da Empoli (c. 1600) can be to be fused to yield an impression of stereoscopic depth, while others suggest that Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is the world’s first stereogram. Here, we report the first quantitative study of perceived depth in these works, in addition to more recent works by Salvador Dalí. To control for the contribution of monocular depth cues, ratings of the magnitude and coherence of depth were recorded for both stereoscopic and pseudoscopic presentations, with a genuine contribution of stereoscopic cues revealed by a difference between these scores. Although effects were clear for Wheatstone and Dalí’s images, no such effects could be found for works produced earlier. As such, we have no evidence to reject the conventional view that the first producer of stereoscopic imagery was Sir Charles Wheatstone. PMID:28203349

  10. Depth Perception and the History of Three-Dimensional Art: Who Produced the First Stereoscopic Images?

    PubMed

    Brooks, Kevin R

    2017-01-01

    The history of the expression of three-dimensional structure in art can be traced from the use of occlusion in Palaeolithic cave paintings, through the use of shadow in classical art, to the development of perspective during the Renaissance. However, the history of the use of stereoscopic techniques is controversial. Although the first undisputed stereoscopic images were presented by Wheatstone in 1838, it has been claimed that two sketches by Jacopo Chimenti da Empoli (c. 1600) can be to be fused to yield an impression of stereoscopic depth, while others suggest that Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is the world's first stereogram. Here, we report the first quantitative study of perceived depth in these works, in addition to more recent works by Salvador Dalí. To control for the contribution of monocular depth cues, ratings of the magnitude and coherence of depth were recorded for both stereoscopic and pseudoscopic presentations, with a genuine contribution of stereoscopic cues revealed by a difference between these scores. Although effects were clear for Wheatstone and Dalí's images, no such effects could be found for works produced earlier. As such, we have no evidence to reject the conventional view that the first producer of stereoscopic imagery was Sir Charles Wheatstone.

  11. Development of seawater tolerance and subsequent downstream migration in wild and stocked young-of-the-year derived Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts.

    PubMed

    Urke, H A; Arnekleiv, J V; Nilsen, T O; Nilssen, K J

    2014-01-01

    This study investigated the development of hypo-osmoregulatory capacity and timing of downstream migration in wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts from the River Stjørdalselva and stocked young-of-the-year (YOY), derived S. salar smolts from the tributary River Dalåa. Both wild and stocked S. salar smolts developed seawater (SW) tolerance in early May, persisting through June, measured as their ability to regulate plasma osmolality and chloride following 24 h SW (salinity = 35) exposure. Although the majority of downstream migration among the stocked S. salar smolts occurred later than observed in their wild counterparts, the development of SW tolerance occurred concurrently. The wild S. salar from Stjørdalselva and stocked YOY smolts from the River Dalåa started to migrate on the same cumulative day-degrees (D°). The study revealed no downstream migration before development of SW tolerance. This emphasizes the importance of incorporating physiological status when studying environmental triggers for downstream migration of S. salar smolts. Overall, these findings suggest that the onset of smolt migration in stocked S. salar smolts was within the smolt window from an osmoregulatory point of view. © 2014 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

  12. Redistribution through social health insurance: evidence on citizen preferences.

    PubMed

    Pfarr, Christian; Schmid, Andreas

    2016-06-01

    The extent of social health insurance (SHI) and supplementary private insurance is frequently analyzed in public choice. Most of these analyses build on the model developed by Gouveia (1997), who defines the extent of SHI as consequence of a choice by self-interested voters. In this model, an indicator reflecting individuals' relative income position and relative risk of falling ill determines the voting decision. Up to now, no empirical evidence for this key assumption has been available. We test the effect of this indicator on individuals' preferences for the extent of SHI in a setting with mandatory SHI that can be supplemented by private insurance. The data is based on a DCE conducted in the field with a representative sample of 1538 German citizens in 2012. Conditional logit and latent class models are used to analyze preference heterogeneity. Our findings strongly support the assumptions of the models. Individuals likely to benefit from public coverage show a positive marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for both a shift away from other beneficiary groups toward the sick and an expansion of publicly financed resources, and the expected net payers have a negative MWTP and prefer lower levels of public coverage.

  13. JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-05-04

    maligned because of his insistence on making Raghunath Jha chairman of the Bihar Janata Dal. The Bihar political observers understand who is better...candidate] between Raghunath Jha and Ramsunder Das. So far as image is concerned, the end result was talk among the masses about VP Singh being more...Patel in Gujerat, Mulayam Singh Yadav in place of Rajmangal Pande in Uttar Pradesh, Raghunath Jha in place of Ramsunder Das in Bihar, V. C. Shukla

  14. Il sistema multiplo di Spica osservato dal Padre Giovanni Battista Audiffredi nel 1753

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sigismondi, Costantino

    2005-06-01

    The multiplicity of Spica's system has been first observed in 1753 by the dominican father Giovanni Battista Audiffredi through a lunar occultation. Audiffredi noted that the emersion's duration from the bright lunar limb was not instantaneous. Nowadays Spica has five known components, four of them have been discovered by occultation. This observation is presented along with a general introduction of lunar occultations, Watts' profiles, Cassini regions and grazes.

  15. Impact of Linear Programming on Computer Development.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-06-01

    soon see. It all really began when Dal Hitchcock, an advisor to General Rawlings , the Air Comptroller, and Marshall Wood, an expert on military...unifying principles . Of course, I thought first to try to adapt the Leontief Input-Output Model. But Marshall and I also talked about certain...still with the Ford Motor Company. I told him about my presentation to General Rawlings on the possibility of a "program Integrator" for planning and

  16. Drought impacts on vegetation dynamics in the Mediterranean based on remote sensing and multi-scale drought indices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trigo, Ricardo; Gouveia, Celia M.; Beguería, Santiago; Vicente-Serrano, Sergio

    2015-04-01

    A number of recent studies have identified a significant increase in the frequency of drought events in the Mediterranean basin (e.g. Trigo et al., 2013, Vicente-Serrano et al., 2014). In the Mediterranean region, large drought episodes are responsible for the most negative impacts on the vegetation including significant losses of crop yield, increasing risk of forest fires (e.g. Gouveia et al., 2012) and even forest decline. The aim of the present work is to analyze in detail the impacts of drought episodes on vegetation in the Mediterranean basin behavior using NDVI data from (from GIMMS) for entire Mediterranean basin (1982-2006) and the multi-scale drought index (the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Correlation maps between fields of monthly NDVI and SPEI for at different time scales (1-24 months) were computed in order to identify the regions and seasons most affected by droughts. Affected vegetation presents high spatial and seasonal variability, with a maximum in summer and a minimum in winter. During February 50% of the affected pixels corresponded to a time scale of 6 months, while in November the most frequent time scale corresponded to 3 months, representing more than 40% of the affected region. Around 20% of grid points corresponded to the longer time scales (18 and 24 months), persisting fairly constant along the year. In all seasons the wetter clusters present higher NDVI values which indicates that aridity holds a key role to explain the spatial differences in the NDVI values along the year. Despite the localization of these clusters in areas with higher values of monthly water balance, the strongest control of drought on vegetation activity are observed for the drier classes located over regions with smaller absolute values of water balance. Gouveia C.M., Bastos A., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C. (2012) "Drought impacts on vegetation in the pre and post-fire events over Iberian Peninsula". Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 12, 3123-3137, 2012. Trigo R.M., Añel J., Barriopedro D., García-Herrera R., Gimeno L., Nieto R., Castillo R., Allen M.R., Massey N. (2013), The record Winter drought of 2011-12 in the Iberian Peninsula [in "Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective". [Peterson, T. C., M. P. Hoerling, P.A. Stott and S. Herring, Eds.] Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 94 (9), S41-S45. Vicente-Serrano S.M., López-Moreno J.I., Beguería S., Lorenzo-Lacruz J., Sanchez-Lorenzo A., García-Ruiz J.M., Azorin-Molina C., Móran-Tejeda E., Revuelto J., Trigo R., Coelho F., Espejo F.: Evidence of increasing drought severity caused by temperature rise in southern Europe. Environmental Research Letters, 9, 044001, 2014. Acknowledgements: This work was partially supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal) under project QSECA (PTDC/AAGGLO/4155/2012).

  17. Post-fire vegetation behaviour in large burnt scars from 2005 fire season in Spain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bastos, A.; Gouveia, C. M.; DaCamara, C. C.; Trigo, R. M.

    2012-04-01

    Wildfires have a wide diversity of impacts on landscape which, in turn, depend on the interaction of fire regimes (e.g. intensity, extent, frequency) and the response of vegetation to them in short and long-terms. The increase in erosion rates and the loss of nutrients by runoff in the first months following the fire are among the major impacts of wildfires. A minimum of 30% of vegetation cover is enough to protect soils against erosion but vegetation may require a long period to reach this threshold after severe fires. Since erosion risk is strongly linked to vegetation recovery rates, post-fire vegetation monitoring becomes crucial in land management. Fire regimes in the Mediterranean have been changing in the past decades due to modifications in both socio-economic and climate patterns. Although many vegetation species in Mediterranean ecosystems are adapted to wildfires, changes in fire regime characteristics affect the ability of ecosystems to recover to their previous state. In Spain, fire is an important driver of changes in landscape composition, leading to dominance of shrubland following fire and to a major decrease of pine woodlands (Viedma et al., 2006). Remote sensing is a powerful tool in land management, allowing vegetation monitoring on large spatial scales for relatively long periods of time. In order to assess vegetation dynamics, monthly NDVI data from 1998-2009 from SPOT/VEGETATION at 1km spatial resolution over the Iberian Peninsula were used. This work focuses on 2005 fire season in Spain, which registered the highest amount of burnt area since 1994, with more than 188000 ha burnt. Burnt scars in this fire season were identified by cluster analysis. Post-fire vegetation recovery was assessed based on the monoparametric model developed by Gouveia et al. (2010) that was applied to four large scars located in different geographical settings with different land cover characteristics. While the two northern regions presented fast recovery, in the remaining areas (centre and south), vegetation recovered very slowly and irregularly. Four years following the fire, vegetation density in these two scars was still markedly below pre-fire levels. Spatial patterns of recovery times were assessed in order to evaluate the influence of physical factors such as fire damage, pre-fire vegetation density and land-cover type, in post-fire behaviour of vegetation for each scar. Pre-fire land-cover type raised as a key factor that may partially explain the differences observed, with shrublands and mixed forests recovering faster than coniferous. Gouveia C., DaCamara C.C. and Trigo R.M.: Post fire vegetation recovery in Portugal based on SPOT-VEGETATION data, Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 10, 673-684, 2010. Viedma, O., Moreno, J.M. and Rieiro, I.: Interactions between land use/land cover change, forest fires and landscape structure in Sierra de Gredos (central Spain), Environmental Conservation, 33, 212-222, 2006.

  18. Assessment of the chestnut production weather dependence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pereira, Mário; Caramelo, Liliana; Gouveia, Célia; Gomes-Laranjo, José

    2010-05-01

    The vegetative cycle of chestnut trees is highly dependent on weather. Photosynthesis and pollen germination are mainly conditioned by the air temperature while heavy precipitation and strong wind have significant impacts during the flushing phase period (Gomes-Laranjo et al., 2005, 2006). In Portugal, chestnut tree orchads are located in mountainous areas of the Northeast region of Trás-os-Montes, between 600 and 1000 m of altitude. Topography controls the atmospheric environment and assures adequate conditions for the chestnut production. In the above mentioned context, remote sensing plays an important role because of its ability to monitor and characterise vegetation dynamics. A number of studies, based on remote sensing, have been conducted in Europe to analyse the year-to-year variations in European vegetation greenness as a function of precipitation and temperature (Gouveia et al., 2008). A previous study focusing on the relationship between meteorological variables and chestnut productivity provides indication that simulation models may benefit from the incorporation of such kind of relationships. The aim of the present work is to provide a detailed description of recent developments, in particular of the added value that may be brought by using satellite data. We have relied on regional fields of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset, at 8-km resolution, provided by the Global Inventory Monitoring and Modelling System (GIMMS) group. The data are derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometers (AVHRR), and cover the period from 1982 to 2006. Additionally we have used the chestnut productivity dataset, which includes the annual values of chestnut production and area of production provided by INE, the National Institute of Statistics of Portugal and the meteorological dataset which includes values of several variables from different providers (Meteorod, NCEP/NCAR, ECA&D and national Meteorological Institute). Results show that satellite and meteorological data are complementary in what respects to the evaluation of the spatial and temporal evolution of the chestnut production. The satellite data proves to be very useful to monitor the spatial and temporal evolution of the vegetation state in the locations of the chestnut orchads and when tested as potential predictors by means of correlation and regression analysis. Gomes-Laranjo, J., Coutinho, J.P., Ferreira-Cardoso, J., Pimentel-Pereira, M., Ramos, C., Torres-Pereira, J.(2005) "Assessment to a new concept of chestnut orchard management in vegetative wall.". Acta Hort. 693: 707-712. Gomes-Laranjo, J.C.E., Peixoto, F., Wong Fong Sang, H.W., Torres-Pereira, J.M.G.(2006) "Study of the temperature effect in three chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) cultivars' behavior". J. Plant Physiol. 163: 945-955. Gouveia C., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C., Libonati R., Pereira J.M.C., 2008b. The North Atlantic Oscillation and European vegetation dynamics. International Journal of Climatology, vol. 28, issue 14, pp. 1835-1847, DOI: 10.1002/joc.1682.

  19. VI photometry of the galactic cluster Berkeley 66

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guarnieri, M. D.; Carraro, G.

    1997-03-01

    A colour magnitude diagram (CMD) extending to V ~= 19 mag is given for 444 stars in the region of the galactic cluster Berkeley 66. The V and I photometry of a nearby field is also reported. This object appears very faint, highly contaminated by foreground stars and very reddened. The apparent distance modulus (m-M) and the colour excess E_{V-I} are guessed to be 17.5 and 1.1, respectively, with an uncertainty of at least 30%. Adopting these values the comparison of the CMD with theoretical isochrones from the Padova group provides an age around 1.0 Gyr. Based on observations carried out at Pino Torinese Observatory, Torino, Italy. Table 2 is available only in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp 130.79.128.5.

  20. Calorimetria nucleare in collisioni tra ioni pesanti ad energie intermedie

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Spezzi, L.

    2002-07-01

    Nel presente lavoro di tesi ci si e' occupati di uno studio sistematico di misure di temperatura ed energia di eccitazione in sistemi nucleari formati in reazioni tra ioni pesanti ad energie intermedie. La temperatura a stata misurata tramite due diversi metodi: rapporto tra le rese di isotopi che differiscono di uno stesso numero di nucleoni ( d/t-3He/4He , 3He/4He -6Li/7Li) - temperatura isotopica -, e rapporto tra le popolazioni degli stati eccitati in frammenti instabili (5Li e 6Li) che decadono in particelle leggere in coincidenza - temperatura di emissione. Le misure in esame sono state effettuate presso i Laboratori Nazionali del Sud per i sistemi 93Nb+93Nb, 93Nb+116,124Sn, 116,120Sn+116,124Sn e 116Sn+93Nb ad energie comprese tra 17 e 40 A MeV. L'apparato di rivelazione era costituito da un odoscopio ad alta granularite (96 telescopi Si (50micron)-Si(300micron)-CsI(Tl) ) e basse soglie di rivelazione, utilizzato sia per identificare risonanze in frammenti eccitati che per misure di rese di isotopi di frammenti con 2<=Z<=6, e dal multirivelatore FIASCO che, grazie alla misura contemporanea di posizione e tempo di volo dei frammenti provenienti dal proiettile (PLF - Projectile Like Fragments) e dal bersaglio (TLF - Target Like Fragment), e' stato utilizzato per misurare direttamente l'energia di eccitazione del sistema in studio. Analisi precedenti, condotte nell'ambito di varie collaborazioni, hanno messo in evidenza la possible esistenza di una transizione di fase liquido-gas del primo ordine nella materia nucleare. In tale contesto, ci siamo occupati di una verifica della curva calorica nucleare, ovvero della correlazione esistente fra temperatura ed energia di eccitazione del sistema, indagando, nel contempo, sulla sua dipendenza dalla massa del sistema che si frammenta. Si e' effettuato, inoltre, un confronto fra i due diversi metodi di misura della temperatura (temperatura isotopica e di emissione): l'andamento plateau-like della curva calorica e' stato confermato sia dalle temperature isotopiche che dalle temperature di emissione. Le "temperature limite", ovvero quelle relative all'andamento plateau-like della curva calorica, misurate per i vari sistemi studiati, sono state confrontate con quelle attualmente disponibili in letteratura, confermando la dipendenza dalla massa del sistema di tale grandezza.

  1. Fasting triglycerides predict recurrent ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with statins.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Gregory G; Abt, Markus; Bao, Weihang; DeMicco, David; Kallend, David; Miller, Michael; Mundl, Hardi; Olsson, Anders G

    2015-06-02

    Most patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are treated with statins, which reduce atherogenic triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. It is uncertain whether triglycerides predict risk after ACS on a background of statin treatment. This study examined the relationship of fasting triglyceride levels to outcomes after ACS in patients treated with statins. Long-term and short-term relationships of triglycerides to risk after ACS were examined in the dal-OUTCOMES trial and atorvastatin arm of the MIRACL (Myocardial Ischemia Reduction with Acute Cholesterol Lowering) trial, respectively. Analysis of dal-OUTCOMES included 15,817 patients (97% statin-treated) randomly assigned 4 to 12 weeks after ACS to treatment with dalcetrapib (a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor) or placebo and followed for a median 31 months. Analysis of MIRACL included 1,501 patients treated with atorvastatin 80 mg daily beginning 1 to 4 days after ACS and followed for 16 weeks. Fasting triglycerides at initial random assignment were related to risk of coronary heart disease death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and unstable angina in models adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and body mass index. Fasting triglyceride levels were associated with both long-term and short-term risk after ACS. In dal-OUTCOMES, long-term risk increased across quintiles of baseline triglycerides (p<0.001). The hazard ratio in the highest/lowest quintile (>175/≤80 mg/dl) was 1.61 (95% confidence interval: 1.34 to 1.94). There was no interaction of triglycerides and treatment assignment on the primary outcome. In the atorvastatin group of MIRACL, short-term risk increased across tertiles of baseline triglycerides (p=0.03), with a hazard ratio of 1.50 [corrected] (95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 2.15) in highest/lowest tertiles (>195/≤135 mg/dl). The relationship of triglycerides to risk was independent of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both studies. Among patients with ACS treated effectively with statins, fasting triglycerides predict long-term and short-term cardiovascular risk. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins may be an important additional target for therapy. (A Study of RO4607381 in Stable Coronary Heart Disease Patients With Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome; NCT00658515). Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Using Continuous Voice Recognition Technology as an Input Medium to the Naval Warfare Interactive Simulation System (NWISS).

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-06-01

    Co ,u’arataor, Gr 7- / ’ . c ; / , caae.ic >ar. ’ ’# d:.i II ’ ..... .. . . .. .. . ... . , rV ABSTRACT A great d-al of research has been conducted an...9 2. Continuous Voice -%ecoait.ior, ....... 11 B. VERBEX 3000 SPEECH APPLiCATION DEVELOP !ENT SYSTEM! ( SPADS ...13 C . NAVAL IAR FARE INT7EACTI7E S:AIULATIC"N SYSTEM (NWISS) ....... .................. 14 D. PURPOSE .................... 16 1. A Past

  3. Ad libitum and restricted day and night sleep architecture.

    PubMed

    Korompeli, Anna St; Muurlink, Olav; Gavala, Alexandra; Myrianthefs, Pavlos; Fildissis, Georgios; Baltopoulos, Georgios

    2016-01-01

    This study represents a first controlled comparison of restricted versus unrestricted sleep in both day and night sleep categories. A repeated measures study of a homogenous group of young women without sleep disorders (n=14) found that stage 1, 2, 3 and REM sleep, as well as sleep latency were not statistically different between day ad libitum sleep (DAL) and day interrupted (DI) sleep categories, while night interrupted (NI) and ad libitum (NAL) sleep showed strikingly different architecture.

  4. Medical Surveillance Monthly Report (MSMR). Volume 21, Number 12, December 2014

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-12-01

    cause of foodborne illness (9% of cases) in the U.S. behind non-typhoi- dal Salmonella (11%) and Clostridium per- fringens (10%).2 It is important to...outbreaks.3 Within members of the active component of the U.S. Armed Forces, Campylobacter and Salmonella are the leading causes of gastrointestinal...that of Salmonella , but a dramatic decline in the former took place between 1996 and 2005, leaving Sal- monella incidence as the highest among

  5. Helicopter Antitank Weapons System: AH-1Q or OH-58Q?

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-06-06

    CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGT fWhnn Dal» F.nlartid) REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. REPORT NUMBER Z. GOVT ACCESSION NO 4. TITLE (and Sublltl...reverse. S.V -x .■’■ O ) ( s VCNMVK ^ X? DD 73^^73 EDITIOHOr » MOVBSlSOBSOLEt! Unclassified SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE...Iroquois in December I960 and received the first delivery in December 1961. It was designed with universal pylons to serve as mounts for weapons

  6. Geologic Map of the Eastern Three-Quarters of the Cuyama 30' x 60' Quadrangle, California

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kellogg, Karl S.; Minor, Scott A.; Cossette, Pamela M.

    2008-01-01

    The map area encompasses a large part of the western Transverse Ranges and southern Coast Ranges of southern California. The San Andreas fault (SAF) cuts the northern part of the map. The area south of the SAF, about 80 percent of the map area, encompasses several distinct tectonic blocks bounded by major thrust or reverse faults, including the Santa Ynez fault, Big Pine fault (and structurally continuous Pine Mountain fault), Tule Creek fault, Nacimiento fault, Ozena fault, Munson Creek fault, Morales fault, and Frazier Mountain Thrust System. Movement on these faults is as old as Miocene and some faults may still be active. In addition, the Paleocene Sawmill Mountain Thrust south of the SAF and the Pastoria Thrust north of the SAF place Cretaceous and older crystalline rocks above Pelona Schist (south of the SAF) and Rand Schist (north of the SAF). South of the SAF, each tectonic block contains a unique stratigraphy, reflecting either large-scale movement on bounding faults or different depositional environments within each block. On Mount Pinos and Frazier Mountain, intrusive and metamorphic rocks as old as Mesoproterozoic, but including voluminous Cretaceous granitoid rocks, underlie or are thrust above non-marine sedimentary rocks as old as Miocene. Elsewhere, marine and non-marine sedimentary rocks are as old as Cretaceous, dominated by thick sequences of both Eocene and Cretaceous marine shales and sandstones. Middle Miocene to early Oligocene volcanic rocks crop out in the Caliente Hills (part of Caliente Formation) and south of Mount Pinos (part of the Plush Ranch Formation). Fault-bounded windows of Jurassic Franciscan Complex ophiolitic rocks are evident in the southwest corner of the area. North of the SAF, marine and non-marine sedimentary rocks as old as Eocene and Miocene volcanic rocks overlie a crystalline basement complex. Basement rocks include Cretaceous intrusive rocks that range from monzogranite to diorite, and Jurassic to late Paleozoic intrusive and metamorphic rocks. The Jurassic to late Paleozoic intrusive rocks include diorite, gabbro, and ultramafic rocks, and the metasedimentary rocks include marble, quartzite, schist, and gneiss.

  7. Winds of Change: The Future of the 32D Army Air Defense Command in U.S. Army Europe

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-04-25

    EDITION OF INOV S IS. OBSOLETE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PA.E e’Whe, Pate Fntrrpd) * A SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE(’Wlho Dal Entamd...Czechoslovakia and Poland have all announced reductions in their defenses and a reorientation of forces to a national defense role. In addition, these...5,000 tanks (later increased to 5,300 tanks and to include Poland ); *Reduce Soviet forces in Eastern Europe and Western Soviet Union by 10,000 tanks

  8. Trasforiiazioni Termoelastiche Finite di Solidi Incomprimibili

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Signorini, A.

    Queste lezlioni hanno come direttiva una sintesi di quanto si trova sistematicamente sviluppato in una mia Memoria sulle trasformazioni termoelastiche finite di solidi incomprimibili, in corso di stampa negli Annali di Matematica pura e applicata t. XXXIX ( 1955) pp. 147-201 , Verranno anche esposti, come necessaria premessa, alcuni d ei risultati di due precedenti Memorie degli stessi Annali. Invece, per motivo di brevità, non potrò dare neppure un cenno delle ulteriori ricerche svilup pate dal prof. T. Manacorda in tre recentissimi suoi lavori:

  9. Nuclear Air Blast Effects.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-06-01

    AD-All? 43 SCIENCE APPLICATZOhu INC NCLAA VA F/6 19/4I NUICLEAR AIR BLAST IFPCTS(U) JUR " PRY UNCLASSIFID SAI-63-636-VA NLOOI I-C lit? I. 1174~ 132...SiCuftIt, CLASSFICA?1lOw OF fl.IS PAQ-C( fhbl Dal. Lnt.,.d, REPORT DOCUMENTATION4 PAGE apoI ct~ NUCLEAR AIR BLAST EFFECTS FINAL REPORT SAI-83-836-WA...TUCSON a WASHINGTON NUCLEAR AIR BLAST EFFECTS FINAL REPORT SAI-83-836-WA Submitted to: Laboratory for Computational Physics Naval Research Laboratory

  10. SocioEconomic Characteristics of the All Volunteer Force: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey, 1979

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-02-01

    Fredland 0>-and DTIC Roger D. Little ELECTE 1 Economics Department S JUL 6 1982 U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland 21402 D DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A...NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL SURVEY, 1979 by J. Eric Fredland and Roger D. Little Economics Department U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, MD 21402 ii; DISTRIBUTION...comments, Steven Lerch for technical assis- tance, and Doris Keating for typing support. i. 4 I• I SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONI OF THIS PAGE (When Dal* EnterNAU

  11. The Role of Nitric Oxide in Modulating Retinal, Choroidal, and Anterior Uveal Blood Flows in the Domestic Piglet

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-11-17

    that are substituted at the quanidino nitrogens are competitive Inhibitors of nitric ox!de synthase in a dOS&<lependent and enantiomerically specific...by nitric oxide. We were able to reduce basal chorc»dal and ante nor wea blood 99 flOYI by 47% and 43%, respectively, by enantiomeric specific...Atthough competitive blockade of NOS by L-NAME is enantiomerically specKle, It Is possible that there Is an allosteric binding site for these arginine

  12. Principles of Work Sample Testing. 1. A Non-Empirical Taxonomy of Test Uses

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-04-01

    ARI TECHNICAL REPORT TR-79-A8 Principles of Work Sample Testingi I. A Non-Empirical Taxonomy of Test Uses b y Robert M. Guion BOWLING GREEN STATE...UNIVERSITY % ’ Bowling Green , Ohio 43403 e April 1979 Contract DAHC 19-77-C-0007 Cj Prepared for U.S. ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTEfor the BEHAVIORAL and...M./io DAlICl9-77-Cji11J7 * 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT. PROJECT, TASK Bowling Green State UniversityAEAWOKUINMER

  13. Galileo's Paradox

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Greenslade, Thomas B.

    2008-05-01

    The paradox is a wonderful teaching tool. The sleepy student in the back row is surprised and wakes up, and the student with the instantly memorized answer is forced into the analytical mode. The diagram in Fig. 1 has the following paradox: A body sliding freely down a chord from the edge of the circle reaches the lowest point on the circle at the same time as a body released simultaneously from the top. This result was first mentioned in a 1602 letter from Galileo Galilei to Guidobaldo dal Monte.

  14. O merah po dal'nejsemu ulucseniju podgotovki kvalificirovannyh rabocih v ucebnyh zavedenijah sistemy professional'no-tehniceskogo obrazovanija (Decree Concerning Measures for Further Improvement of the Training of Skilled Workers in the Establishments of the Vocational and Technical Education System) (April 2, 1969).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Moscow. Central Committee.

    This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of a decree issued by the Soviet Government to upgrade the system of vocational and industrial training in the USSR. It claims that vocational and technical educational establishments should gradually be transformed into vocational-technical colleges offering a 3-4 year…

  15. Structural characterization of a novel derivative of myricetin from Mimosa pudica as an anti-proliferative agent for the treatment of cancer.

    PubMed

    Jose, Joby; Dhanya, A T; Haridas, Karickal R; Sumesh Kumar, T M; Jayaraman, Sony; Variyar, E Jayadevi; Sudhakaran, Sudheesh

    2016-12-01

    The study was initiated to determine the anticancer activity of a novel compound isolated from the plant Mimosa pudica. The structure of the compound was identified as a derivative of myricetin having alkyl, hydroxy alkyl and methyl substitutions on the basis of spectral evidences (UV-vis, FT-IR, 1 H NMR and Mass spectra). The isolated compound was interpreted as 2-(2',6'-dimethyl-3',4',5'-alkyl or hydroxy alkyl substituted phenyl)-3-oxy-(alkyl or hydoxy alkyl)- 5,7-dihydroxy-chromen-4-one. In vitro evaluation of anticancer activity against human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) and human erythroleukemic cell line (K562) were conducted using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In vivo anticancer activity was determined against Dalton's Ascites Lymphoma (DAL) in Swiss albino mice. The mice were treated with intraperitoneal administration of the compound at 25mg/kg and 100mg/kg body weight and were compared with the normal, DAL control and standard drug cyclophosphamide treated groups. The histology revealed that the compound could protect the cellular architecture of liver and kidney. The results from the in vitro, in vivo and histological examinations confirmed the ethnopharmacological significance of the isolated compound and could be considered further for the development of an effective drug against cancer. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  16. Preliminary Source Tracking of Male-Specific (F+) RNA Coliphage on Lettuce as a Surrogate of Enteric Viruses Using Reverse Transcription-PCR.

    PubMed

    Yazdi, Mojgan; Yavarmanesh, Masoud; Bahreini, Masumeh; Mohebbi, Mohebbat

    2017-03-01

    The aim of this research was to preliminary track fecal source male-specific F + RNA coliphages including human and animals in lettuce. At first, two published virus extraction procedures of ultracentrifugation and PEG precipitation were compared using DAL assay for determining the recovery efficiency in lettuce spiked artificially with three concentrations (10 2 , 10 4 , 10 6  pfu/100 ml) of MS2 coliphage. The results showed that PEG precipitation had the highest recovery in which the recovery efficiency at the spiked level of 10 6  pfu/100 ml was 16.63 %. Aqueous phase obtained from the final step of PEG method was applied for enumeration of coliphage and viral RNA extraction in naturally contaminated lettuce samples (N = 30) collected from two sources (market and farm). The samples were then analyzed based on (I, II, III, and IV primer sets) using RT-PCR method. Coliphages were detected in 9 (60 %) and 12 (80 %) out of 15 market and farm samples, respectively, using DAL assay, whereas male-specific F + RNA coliphages were detected using the RT-PCR method in 9 (60 %) and 13 (86.6 %) out of 15 samples of market and farm, respectively. Based on the results, only genotype I of male-specific F + RNA coliphages was detected in lettuce samples and no sample tested was positive for other genotypes (II, III, and IV).

  17. High resolution multi-scalar drought indices for Iberia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Russo, Ana; Gouveia, Célia; Trigo, Ricardo; Jerez, Sonia

    2014-05-01

    The Iberian Peninsula has been recurrently affected by drought episodes and by adverse associated effects (Gouveia et al., 2009), ranging from severe water shortages to losses of hydroelectricity production, increasing risk of forest fires, forest decline and triggering processes of land degradation and desertification. Moreover, Iberia corresponds to one of the most sensitive areas to current and future climate change and is nowadays considered a hot spot of climate change with high probability for the increase of extreme events (Giorgi and Lionello, 2008). The spatial and temporal behavior of climatic droughts at different time scales was analyzed using spatially distributed time series of multi-scalar drought indicators, such as the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) (Vicente-Serrano et al., 2010). This new climatic drought index is based on the simultaneous use of precipitation and temperature fields with the advantage of combining a multi-scalar character with the capacity to include the effects of temperature variability on drought assessment. Moreover, reanalysis data and the higher resolution hindcasted databases obtained from them are valuable surrogates of the sparse observations and widely used for in-depth characterizations of the present-day climate. Accordingly, this work aims to enhance the knowledge on high resolution drought patterns in Iberian Peninsula, taking advantage of high-resolution (10km) regional MM5 simulations of the recent past (1959-2007) over Iberia. It should be stressed that these high resolution meteorological fields (e.g. temperature, precipitation) have been validated for various purposes (Jerez et al., 2013). A detailed characterization of droughts since the 1960s using the 10 km resolution hidncasted simulation was performed with the aim to explore the conditions favoring drought onset, duration and ending, as well as the subsequent short, medium and long-term impacts affecting the environment and the human resources. The understanding of the present-day underlying mechanisms together with the necessary contextualization within a wider past, is essential to understand future projections, and should lastly rebound on the adequacy of the management decision making. Acknowledgments: This work was partially supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal) under project QSECA (PTDC/AAG-GLO/4155/2012) Gouveia C., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C. (2009) Drought and Vegetation Stress Monitoring in Portugal using Satellite Data, Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 9, 1-11. Giorgi, F. and Lionello, P.; Climate change projections for the Mediterranean region. Global and Planetary Change, 63 (2-3): 90-104, 2008. Vicente-Serrano, Sergio M., Santiago Beguería, Juan I. López-Moreno, 2010: A Multiscalar Drought Index Sensitive to Global Warming: The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index. J. Climate, 23, 1696-1718. Jerez, S., R.M. Trigo, S.M. Vicente-Serrano, D. Pozo-Vázquez, R. Lorente-Plazas, J. Lorenzo-Lacruz, F. Santos-Alamillos and J.P. Montávez (2013). The impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on the renewable energy resources in south-western Europe. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, DOI 10.1175/JAMC-D-12-0257.1.

  18. Drained Lava Tubes and Lobes From Eocretaceous Paraná-Etendeka Province, Brazil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waichel, B. L.; Lima, E. F. D.; Mouro, L. D.; Briske, D. R.; Tratz, E. B.

    2017-12-01

    The identification of lava tubes in continental flood basalt provinces (CFBP) is difficult and reports of preserved drained tubes and lobes are rare. The large extension of CFBP must be related to an efficient transport of lava and tubes are the most efficient mechanism to transport lava in insulated pathways, like observed in modern volcanic fields. Looking for caves in the central portion of Paraná-Etendeka Province, we discovered drained lava tubes (4) and lobes (6) in a volcanic sequence constituted by pahoehoe flows. Lava tubes are: Casa de Pedra, Perau Branco, Dal Pae and Pinhão. The Casa de Pedra tube system is composed of two principal chambers with similar dimensions, reaching up to 10 m long and 4.0 m high connected by a narrow passage. The general form of the chamber is hemispherical, with re-entrances of ellipsoidal shape probably formed by small lava lobes and collapse structures in the roof. The second chamber is connected with three secondary lava tubes. Columns in the cave are formed when the flowing lava separates in two lava channels that join again further down the system, forming and anastomosing tube network. Lateral lava benches and lava drainings at the walls are observed in secondary tubes. The general lava flow is to SW. The Perau Branco system is composed of five tubes with ellipsoidal openings. The main features are the long tubes that emerge from the small flattened chambers. One tube is more than 20 m long, with alternating circular and flattened ellipsoidal sections. The general lava flow is to NE. Pinhão tube is spherical with 3 meters diameter and 15 m long, with lava flow orientation to NW. This tube has a bottleneck shape with linings (up to 3 cm thick), which are observed in the roof and walls. Dal Pae Tube is 10 m long with an ellipsoidal opening, bottleneck shape and orientation to NE. The lava flow directions measured in the tubes is to SW (Casa de Pedra, Pinhão) and NE (Perau Branco, Dal Pae) and this pattern is related to orientation of the Ponta Grossa swarm feeder dikes (NW). The drained lava lobes show variable dimensions, typical lobate morphology and form sub-crustal caves. The smaller are up to 1.5 m high, 10 m wide and 15 long; the majors are up to 6m high, 20 m wide and 25 m long. Collapsed roofs are observed in big caves and collapses of overlying thin pahoehoe lobes are common in smaller lobes.

  19. a Stochastic Approach to Multiobjective Optimization of Large-Scale Water Reservoir Networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bottacin-Busolin, A.; Worman, A. L.

    2013-12-01

    A main challenge for the planning and management of water resources is the development of multiobjective strategies for operation of large-scale water reservoir networks. The optimal sequence of water releases from multiple reservoirs depends on the stochastic variability of correlated hydrologic inflows and on various processes that affect water demand and energy prices. Although several methods have been suggested, large-scale optimization problems arising in water resources management are still plagued by the high dimensional state space and by the stochastic nature of the hydrologic inflows. In this work, the optimization of reservoir operation is approached using approximate dynamic programming (ADP) with policy iteration and function approximators. The method is based on an off-line learning process in which operating policies are evaluated for a number of stochastic inflow scenarios, and the resulting value functions are used to design new, improved policies until convergence is attained. A case study is presented of a multi-reservoir system in the Dalälven River, Sweden, which includes 13 interconnected reservoirs and 36 power stations. Depending on the late spring and summer peak discharges, the lowlands adjacent to Dalälven can often be flooded during the summer period, and the presence of stagnating floodwater during the hottest months of the year is the cause of a large proliferation of mosquitos, which is a major problem for the people living in the surroundings. Chemical pesticides are currently being used as a preventive countermeasure, which do not provide an effective solution to the problem and have adverse environmental impacts. In this study, ADP was used to analyze the feasibility of alternative operating policies for reducing the flood risk at a reasonable economic cost for the hydropower companies. To this end, mid-term operating policies were derived by combining flood risk reduction with hydropower production objectives. The performance of the resulting policies was evaluated by simulating the online operating process for historical inflow scenarios and synthetic inflow forecasts. The simulations are based on a combined mid- and short-term planning model in which the value function derived in the mid-term planning phase provides the value of the policy at the end of the short-term operating horizon. While a purely deterministic linear analysis provided rather optimistic results, the stochastic model allowed for a more accurate evaluation of trade-offs and limitations of alternative operating strategies for the Dalälven reservoir network.

  20. Featured Image: The Birth of Spiral Arms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kohler, Susanna

    2017-01-01

    In this figure, the top panels show three spiral galaxies in the Virgo cluster, imaged with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The bottom panels provide a comparison with three morphologically similar galaxies generated insimulations. The simulations run by Marcin Semczuk, Ewa okas, and Andrs del Pino (Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Poland) were designed to examine how the spiral arms of galaxies like the Milky Way may have formed. In particular, the group exploredthe possibility that so-called grand-design spiral arms are caused by tidal effects as a Milky-Way-like galaxy orbits a cluster of galaxies. The authors show that the gravitational potential of the cluster can trigger the formation of two spiral arms each time the galaxy passes through the pericenter of its orbit around the cluster. Check out the original paper below for more information!CitationMarcin Semczuk et al 2017 ApJ 834 7. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/834/1/7

  1. Population size of Cuban Parrots Amazona leucocephala and Sandhill Cranes Grus canadensis and community involvement in their conservation in northern Isla de la Juventud, Cuba

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Aguilera, X.G.; Alvarez, V.B.; Wiley, J.W.; Rosales, J.R.

    1999-01-01

    The Cuban Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis nesiotes and Cuban Parrot Amazona leucocephala palmarum are considered endangered species in Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud (formerly Isla de Pinos). Coincident with a public education campaign, a population survey for these species was conducted in the northern part of the Isla de la Juventud on 17 December 1995, from 06hoo to 10hoo. Residents from throughout the island participated, manning 98 stations, with 1-4 observers per station. Parrots were observed at 60 (61.2%) of the stations with a total of 1320, maximum (without correction for duplicate observations), and 1100, minimum (corrected), individuals counted. Sandhill cranes were sighted at 38 (38.8%) of the stations, with a total of 115 individuals. Cranes and parrots co-occurred at 20 (20.4%) of the stations.

  2. Lysosomal Membrane Glycoproteins: Properties of LAMP-1 (Lysosome Associated Membrane Protein) and LAMP-2

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-01-01

    Biosnthesis of th - Glvcooro ins Precursor forms of L ,MP-1 anc L.,. 2 ann process i’ :o n ecu w er’ examined by pulse -chase Iabeling ann,, recipcian. c t i...in the oresence of deterqent. 4 -",W Studies of the biosynthesis and process inn of the qL/cnDroteins showed that each contained a polypeptide core of...pDroximatelv 43,000 dal tons as identified by use of tunicarnycin and endolvcosidase H. Nascent glycooroteins pulse -labeled for 5 min with [3S

  3. Microbiological Evaluation of Production Procedures for Frozen Foil Pack Meals at the Central Preparation Facility of the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1976-01-01

    ACT (Continue an revere* side If necessary and Identify by block numbor) Food items produced at F.E. Warren AFB met the microbiological constraints...of SA(Regulation 146-1. A Hazard Analysis (HA) to aid in production guidance was of limited valuedue to a lack of predictability of production...II I UNCLASSIFIED/ it - RUITY CLASSIFICATO FTI PAGE(Wh.n Dal& Emted) I’ FSUMMARY The APC’s of the six raw beef and chicken samples used for foil pack

  4. Method for transporting impellent gases

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Papst, H.

    1975-01-01

    The described system DAL comprises a method and a device for transportation of buoyant impellent gases, without the need for expensive pipes and liquid tankers. The gas is self air-lifted from its source to a consignment point by means of voluminous, light, hollow bodies. Upon release of the gas at the consignment point, the bodies are filled with another cheap buoyant gas (steam or heated air) for the return trip to the source. In both directions substantial quantities of supplementary freight goods can be transported. Requirements and advantages are presented.

  5. Fault Detection/Isolation Verification,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-08-01

    63 - A I MCC ’I UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIPICATION OP THIS PAGE tMh*f Dal f&mered, REPORT D00CUMENTATION PAGE " .O ORM 1. REPORT NUM.9ft " 2. GOVT...test the performance of th .<ver) DO 2" 1473 EoIoTON OP iNov os i OSoLTe UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIPICATION 0 T"IS PAGE (P 3 . at Sted) I...UNCLASSIFIED Acumy, C .AMICATIN Of THIS PAGS. (m ... DO&.m , Algorithm on these netowrks , several different fault scenarios were designed for each network. Each

  6. Tectonic Implications of Changes in the Paleogene Paleodrainage Network in the West-Central Part of the San Luis Basin, Northern Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico and Colorado, USA

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thompson, R. A.; Turner, K. J.; Cosca, M. A.; Drenth, B.

    2016-12-01

    The San Luis Basin is the largest of extensional basins in the northern Rio Grande rift (>11,400 km2). The modern basin configuration is the result of Neogene deformation that has been the focus of numerous studies. In contrast, Paleogene extensional deformation is relatively little studied owing to a fragmentary or poorly exposed stratigraphic record in most areas. However, volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits exposed along the western margin of the basin provide the spatial and temporal framework for interpretation of paleodrainage patterns that changed in direct response to Oligocene basin subsidence and the migration of centers of Tertiary volcanism. The early Oligocene (34 to 30 Ma) drainage pattern that originated in the volcanic highlands of the San Juan Mountains flowed south into the northern Tusas Mountains. A structural and topographic high composed of Proterozoic rocks in the Tusas Mountains directed flow to the southeast at least as late as 29 Ma, as ash-flow tuffs sourced in the southeast San Juan Mountains are restricted to the north side of the paleohigh. Construction of volcanic highlands in the San Luis Hills between 30 and 28.5 Ma provided an abundant source of volcanic debris that combined with volcanic detritus sourced in the southeast San Juan Mountains and was deposited (Los Pinos Formation) throughout the northern Tusas Mountains progressively onlapping the paleotopographic high. By 29 Ma, subsidence of the Las Mesitas graben, a structural sub-basin, between the San Luis Hills and the southeast San Juan and northern Tusas Mountains is reflected by thick deposits of Los Pinos Formation beneath 26.5 Ma basalts. Regional tectonism responsible for the formation of the graben may have also lowered the topographic and structural high in the Tusas Mountains, which allowed development of a southwest-flowing paleodrainage that likely flowed onto the Colorado Plateau. Tholeiitic basalt flows erupted in the San Luis Hills at 25.8 Ma, that presently cap dip-slope surfaces 600 m above the basin floor, flowed southwest at least 50 km utilizing the paleodrainage. After emplacement of 20.5 Ma basalts along the margin of the southeast San Juan Mountains, uplift along the western margin of the basin reversed paleodrainage directions eastward into the incipient San Luis Basin.

  7. The Role of Sex and Mating Status in the Expansion Process of Arhopalus rusticus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)-an Exotic Cerambycid in Argentina.

    PubMed

    Grilli, Mariano Pablo; Fachinetti, Romina

    2017-06-01

    In Córdoba province, central Argentina, there is an area of introduced pine trees, in which an invading Cerambycid, Arhopalus rusticus (L.), was detected in this region for the first time in 2006. The species has since expanded its range until it now occupies the whole area. Arhopalus rusticus is a common species in pine forests of the northern hemisphere. In this paper, we analyze how sex and mating status affects flight performance and the potential distribution of this species. The study was performed with individuals collected from introduced pine forests in the center-west of Córdoba Province (Argentina). The dispersal capability of A. rusticus was determined by measuring flight speed and distance traveled by recently emerged mated and unmated A. rusticus in flight mills. Data of preflight body weight, postflight body weight, body length, and elytron size were obtained from the individuals that were flown in the flight mill. We found that females had a greater body length, weighed more, had longer elytra, and were stronger flyers than males. We also found that mated individuals flew faster and longer distances than unmated individuals, and consumed a smaller fraction of their body weight. A positive ratio was observed between elytra size and flight speed. A map of males' and females' dispersal distances was produced for the study region, using the adjusted dispersal distance distribution of males and females. The flight performance showed that, as females disperse after copulation, they increase the chances of establishing the species in unoccupied areas.En la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina, hay una importante área de pinos implantados. En esta región durante el año 2006 se detectó por primera vez a Arhopalus rusticus (L.), un Cerambycidae invasor. A. rusticus es una especie común en los bosques de pino del hemisferio norte. En este trabajo analizamos de qué manera el sexo y el estado de apareamiento afectan el desempeño de vuelo y la distribución potencial de esta especie. Utilizamos individuos recolectados de los bosques de pino implantados en la región centro oeste de la provincia de Córdoba (Argentina). La capacidad de dispersión de Arhopalus rusticus se determinó haciendo volar individuos recién emergidos en un molino de vuelo. Se registró el peso previo y posterior al vuelo, el largo del cuerpo y el tamaño del élitro. Las hembras fueron mejores voladoras, más largas, más pesadas, con élitros más largos que los machos. Observamos diferencias entre el potencial de dispersión dependiendo del estado de apareamiento de los individuos. Los individuos apareados volaron más rápido y mayores distancias que los individuos no apareados y consumieron una menor fracción de su peso corporal. Se observó una relación positiva entre el tamaño del élitro y la velocidad de vuelo. Se generó un mapa de las distancias de dispersión potencial de los machos y de las hembras para la región de estudio utilizando las distribuciones de las distancias obtenidas del molino de vuelo. La dispersión post copulación incrementa las chances de que la especie se establezca en zonas no ocupadas. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  8. Fracture patterns after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy of the mandibular ramus according to the Obwegeser/Dal Pont and Hunsuck/Epker modifications.

    PubMed

    Möhlhenrich, Stephan Christian; Kniha, Kristian; Peters, Florian; Ayoub, Nassim; Goloborodko, Evgeny; Hölzle, Frank; Fritz, Ulrike; Modabber, Ali

    2017-05-01

    The aim of this study was to compare the fracture patterns after sagittal split osteotomy according to Obwegeser/Dal Pont (ODP) and Hunsuck/Epker (HE), as well as to investigate the relationship between lateral bone cut ending or angle and the incidence of unfavorable/bad splits. Postoperative cone-beam computed tomograms of 124 splits according to ODP and 60 according to HE were analyzed. ODP led to 75.8% and HE led to 60% lingual fractures with mandibular foramen contact. Horizontal fractures were found in 9.7% and 6.7%, respectively, and unfavorable/bad splits were found in 11.3% and 10%, respectively. The lateral osteotomy angle was 106.22° (SD 12.03)° for bad splits and 106.6° (SD 13.12)° for favorable splits. Correlations were found between favorable fracture patterns and split modifications and between buccal ending of the lateral bone cut and bad splits (p < 0.001). No relationship was observed between split modifications (p = 0.792) or the osteotomy angle (p = 0.937) and the incidence of unfavorable/bad splits. Split modifications had no influence on the incidence of unfavorable/bad splits, but the buccal ending of the lateral bone cut did have an influence. More lingual fractures with mandibular foramen contact are expected with the ODP modification. The osteotomy angle did not differ between favorable and bad splits. Copyright © 2017 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Transcriptomic and biochemical evidence for the role of lysine biosynthesis against linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

    PubMed

    O'Doherty, P J; Lyons, V; Tun, N M; Rogers, P J; Bailey, T D; Wu, M J

    2014-12-01

    Amino acid biosynthesis forms part of an integrated stress response against oxidants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and higher eukaryotes. Here we show an essential protective role of the l-lysine biosynthesis pathway in response to the oxidative stress condition induced by the lipid oxidant-linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LoaOOH), by means of transcriptomic profiling and phenotypic analysis, and using the deletion mutant dal80∆ and lysine auxotroph lys1∆. A comprehensive up-regulation of lysine biosynthetic genes (LYS1, LYS2, LYS4, LYS9, LYS12, LYS20 and LYS21) was revealed in dal80Δ following the oxidant challenge. The lysine auxotroph (lys1∆) exhibited a significant decrease in growth compared with that of BY4743 upon exposure to LoaOOH, albeit with the sufficient provision of lysine in the medium. Furthermore, the growth of wild type BY4743 exposed to LoaOOH was also greatly reduced in lysine-deficient conditions, despite a full complement of lysine biosynthetic genes. Amino acid analysis of LoaOOH-treated yeast showed that the level of cellular lysine remained unchanged throughout oxidant challenge, suggesting that the induced lysine biosynthesis leads to a steady-state metabolism as compared to the untreated yeast cells. Together, these findings demonstrate that lysine availability and its biosynthesis pathway play an important role in protecting the cell from lipid peroxide-induced oxidative stress, which is directly related to understanding environmental stress and industrial yeast management in brewing, wine making and baking.

  10. Planning and design of Berg-en-Dal, a new camp in Kruger National Park

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    van Riet, W. F.; Cooks, J.

    1990-05-01

    The premise of this article is that the planning and design of new rest camps in conservation areas should be based on ecological principles in such a way that the plant ecology within the camp be an integral part and extension of the natural ecology of its immediate vicinity. This is desirable so that visitors to the camp will be provided not only with facilities for resting, eating, and sleeping, but also be able to enjoy and study the natural environment in a relaxed atmosphere. The Berg-en-Dal rest camp, which was established in Kruger National Park, was planned in such a way and designed according to the principles outlined by the authors in a companion article. The planning included six zones: a control zone, day visitor zone, overnight visitor zone, staff accommodation zone, recreation zone, and service zone. The point is stressed that plant species selected to be used as additional vegetation to those already growing in the camp were endemic to the nine landscape facets identified in the camp. The design allowed for separation of the various land-use zones in such a way that they would complement each other rather than be a hindrance to each other. The camp has been built according to the plans included in this article and has proved to be a great success. The conclusion is drawn that the planning principles are sound and should be used in the future for the planning and design of rest camps for conservation areas in South Africa.

  11. A Retrospective Study on Genetic Heterogeneity within Treponema Strains: Subpopulations Are Genetically Distinct in a Limited Number of Positions.

    PubMed

    Čejková, Darina; Strouhal, Michal; Norris, Steven J; Weinstock, George M; Šmajs, David

    2015-01-01

    Pathogenic uncultivable treponemes comprise human and animal pathogens including agents of syphilis, yaws, bejel, pinta, and venereal spirochetosis in rabbits and hares. A set of 10 treponemal genome sequences including those of 4 Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA) strains (Nichols, DAL-1, Mexico A, SS14), 4 T. p. ssp. pertenue (TPE) strains (CDC-2, Gauthier, Samoa D, Fribourg-Blanc), 1 T. p. ssp. endemicum (TEN) strain (Bosnia A) and one strain (Cuniculi A) of Treponema paraluisleporidarum ecovar Cuniculus (TPLC) were examined with respect to the presence of nucleotide intrastrain heterogeneous sites. The number of identified intrastrain heterogeneous sites in individual genomes ranged between 0 and 7. Altogether, 23 intrastrain heterogeneous sites (in 17 genes) were found in 5 out of 10 investigated treponemal genomes including TPA strains Nichols (n = 5), DAL-1 (n = 4), and SS14 (n = 7), TPE strain Samoa D (n = 1), and TEN strain Bosnia A (n = 5). Although only one heterogeneous site was identified among 4 tested TPE strains, 16 such sites were identified among 4 TPA strains. Heterogeneous sites were mostly strain-specific and were identified in four tpr genes (tprC, GI, I, K), in genes involved in bacterial motility and chemotaxis (fliI, cheC-fliY), in genes involved in cell structure (murC), translation (prfA), general and DNA metabolism (putative SAM dependent methyltransferase, topA), and in seven hypothetical genes. Heterogeneous sites likely represent both the selection of adaptive changes during infection of the host as well as an ongoing diversifying evolutionary process.

  12. Hydrograph variances over different timescales in hydropower production networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zmijewski, Nicholas; Wörman, Anders

    2016-08-01

    The operation of water reservoirs involves a spectrum of timescales based on the distribution of stream flow travel times between reservoirs, as well as the technical, environmental, and social constraints imposed on the operation. In this research, a hydrodynamically based description of the flow between hydropower stations was implemented to study the relative importance of wave diffusion on the spectrum of hydrograph variance in a regulated watershed. Using spectral decomposition of the effluence hydrograph of a watershed, an exact expression of the variance in the outflow response was derived, as a function of the trends of hydraulic and geomorphologic dispersion and management of production and reservoirs. We show that the power spectra of involved time-series follow nearly fractal patterns, which facilitates examination of the relative importance of wave diffusion and possible changes in production demand on the outflow spectrum. The exact spectral solution can also identify statistical bounds of future demand patterns due to limitations in storage capacity. The impact of the hydraulic description of the stream flow on the reservoir discharge was examined for a given power demand in River Dalälven, Sweden, as function of a stream flow Peclet number. The regulation of hydropower production on the River Dalälven generally increased the short-term variance in the effluence hydrograph, whereas wave diffusion decreased the short-term variance over periods of <1 week, depending on the Peclet number (Pe) of the stream reach. This implies that flow variance becomes more erratic (closer to white noise) as a result of current production objectives.

  13. Deletion of the Uracil Permease Gene Confers Cross-Resistance to 5-Fluorouracil and Azoles in Candida lusitaniae and Highlights Antagonistic Interaction between Fluorinated Nucleotides and Fluconazole

    PubMed Central

    Gabriel, Frédéric; Sabra, Ayman; El-Kirat-Chatel, Sofiane; Pujol, Sophie; Fitton-Ouhabi, Valérie; Brèthes, Daniel; Dementhon, Karine; Accoceberry, Isabelle

    2014-01-01

    We characterized two additional membrane transporters (Fur4p and Dal4p) of the nucleobase cation symporter 1 (NCS1) family involved in the uptake transport of pyrimidines and related molecules in the opportunistic pathogenic yeast Candida lusitaniae. Simple and multiple null mutants were constructed by gene deletion and genetic crosses. The function of each transporter was characterized by supplementation experiments, and the kinetic parameters of the uptake transport of uracil were measured using radiolabeled substrate. Fur4p specifically transports uracil and 5-fluorouracil. Dal4p is very close to Fur4p and transports allantoin (glyoxyldiureide). Deletion of the FUR4 gene confers resistance to 5-fluorouracil as well as cross-resistance to triazoles and imidazole antifungals when they are used simultaneously with 5-fluorouracil. However, the nucleobase transporters are not involved in azole uptake. Only fluorinated pyrimidines, not pyrimidines themselves, are able to promote cross-resistance to azoles by both the salvage and the de novo pathway of pyrimidine synthesis. A reinterpretation of the data previously obtained led us to show that subinhibitory doses of 5-fluorocytosine, 5-fluorouracil, and 5-fluorouridine also were able to trigger resistance to fluconazole in susceptible wild-type strains of C. lusitaniae and of different Candida species. Our results suggest that intracellular fluorinated nucleotides play a key role in azole resistance, either by preventing azoles from targeting the lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase or its catalytic site or by acting as a molecular switch for the triggering of efflux transport. PMID:24867971

  14. Special issue on current research in astrophysical magnetism

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kosovichev, Alexander; Lundstedt, Henrik; Brandenburg, Axel

    2012-06-01

    Much of what Hannes Alfvén envisaged some 70 years ago has now penetrated virtually all branches of astrophysical research. Indeed, magnetic fields can display similar properties over a large range of scales. We have therefore been able to take advantage of the transparency of galaxies and the interstellar medium to obtain measurements inside them. On the other hand, the Sun is much closer, allowing us to obtain a detailed picture of the interaction of flows and magnetic fields at the surface, and more recently in the interior by helioseismology. Moreover, the solar timescales are generally much shorter, making studies of dynamical processes more direct. This special issue on current research in astrophysical magnetism is based on work discussed during a one month Nordita program Dynamo, Dynamical Systems and Topology and comprises papers that fall into four different categories (A)-(D). (A) Papers on small-scale magnetic fields and flows in astrophysics 1. E M de Gouveia Dal Pino, M R M Leão, R Santos-Lima, G Guerrero, G Kowal and A Lazarian Magnetic flux transport by turbulent reconnection in astrophysical flows 2. Philip R Goode, Valentyna Abramenko and Vasyl Yurchyshyn New solar telescope in Big Bear: evidence for super-diffusivity and small-scale solar dynamos? 3. I N Kitiashvili, A G Kosovichev, N N Mansour, S K Lele and A A Wray Vortex tubes of turbulent solar convection The above collection of papers begins with a review of astrophysical reconnection and introduces the concept of dynamos necessary to explain the existence of contemporary magnetic fields both on galactic and solar scales (paper 1). This is complemented by observations with the new Big Bear Solar Observatory telescope, allowing us to see magnetic field amplification on small scales (paper 2). This in turn is complemented by realistic simulations of subsurface and surface flow patterns (paper 3). (B) Papers on theoretical approaches to turbulent fluctuations 4. Nathan Kleeorin and Igor Rogachevskii Growth rate of small-scale dynamo at low magnetic Prandtl numbers 5. Erico L Rempel, Abraham C-L Chian and Axel Brandenburg Lagrangian chaos in an ABC-forced nonlinear dynamo 6. J E Snellman, M Rheinhardt, P J Käpylä, M J Mantere and A Brandenburg Mean-field closure parameters for passive scalar turbulence Research in dynamo theory has been actively pursued for over half a century. It started by trying to understand the large-scale magnetic fields of the Sun and the Earth, and subsequently also in galaxies. Such large-scale fields can nowadays be understood in terms of mean-field dynamo theory that explains the possibility of large-scale field generation under anisotropic conditions lacking mirror symmetry. However, even when none of this is the case, dynamos can still work, and they are called small-scale dynamos that were referred to in paper 2. This was studied originally under the assumption that the flow is smooth compared with the magnetic field, but in the Sun the opposite is the case. This is because viscosity is much smaller than magnetic diffusivity, i.e., their ratio, which is the magnetic Prandtl number, is small. In that case the physics of small-scale dynamos changes, but dynamos still exist even then (paper 4). Tracing the flow lines in nonlinear small-scale dynamos is important for understanding their mixing properties (paper 5). Turbulent mixing is a generic concept that applies not only to magnetic field, but also to passive scalars which are often used as a prototype for studying this. Turbulence simulations have helped tremendously in quantifying the ability of turbulent flows to mix, but the more we know, the more complicated it becomes. It turns out that spatial and temporal coupling is an important consideration for allowing accurate comparison between numerical simulations and mean-field theory (paper 6). (C) The large-scale solar cycle 7. V V Pipin and D D Sokoloff The fluctuating α-effect and Waldmeier relations in the nonlinear dynamo models1 8. Radostin D Simitev and Friedrich H Busse Solar cycle properties described by simple convection-driven dynamos The mean-field concept has helped us constructing detailed models of the solar cycle and to make comparison with observed features of the solar 11-year cycle. One such feature is the Waldmeier relation between growth time and amplitude of the cycle, and there is another relation for the declining part of the cycle. These relations reflect nonlinear aspects of the model and therefore constitute an important test of the model (paper 7). While mean-field theory is a useful concept for modeling solar activity, it must eventually be tested against fully three-dimensional simulations. At present, such simulations are often quite idealized, because only the large scales of the turbulent convection of stars can be resolved. Nevertheless, numerical simulations begin to show many properties that are also seen in the Sun (paper 8). (D) Flow and dynamo properties in spherical shells 9. Maxim Reshetnyak and Pavel Hejda Kinetic energy cascades in quasi-geostrophic convection in a spherical shell 10. Radostin D Simitev and Friedrich H Busse Bistable attractors in a model of convection-driven spherical dynamos As the rotation speed is increased, the flow becomes more strongly constrained by the Coriolis force. In a spherical shell, such a flow is additionally constrained by gravity, or at least by the geometry of the domain. Such flows are called geostrophic. Only now are we beginning to learn about the subtle properties of the kinetic energy cascade in such flows (paper 9). Turbulent systems are highly nonlinear and it is in principle possible to find multiple solutions of the equations even for the same boundary and initial conditions. For turbulent systems, we can only ask about the statistical properties of the solutions, and the question of multiple solutions is then less obvious. However, in turbulent dynamos in convective shells, a nice example has been found where this is possible. A detailed account of this is given in paper 10. Most of the participants of the Nordita program were able to stay for the full month of the program, allowing them to think about new ideas that will be reflected not only in papers on the short term, but also in new projects and collaborations on a larger scale in the years to come. We therefore thank Nordita for providing a stimulating atmosphere and acknowledge the generous support. 1This paper has been published as V V Pipin and D D Sokoloff 2011 Phys. Scr. 84 065903.

  15. St. Johns AAFB, St. Johns, Antigua. Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations (RUSSWO). Parts A through F.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1970-07-13

    l t w i f k p t t o r tR (brtbiw Smeutnta. 00 ~ US R F C"hn"Cfbs a /0. R 0 DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION Appme forpublic s.I~mq DISRIIII)TON STATEMENT...stations using similar reporting practices. HO3URLY OBSERVATIONS are defined as those record or record-special observations recorded at scheduled hourly...have limited use and may be misleading. 2. The second set of tables for each of the above presents the extreme dal nmts ty individual year wA month for

  16. Functional Description for the Department of the Army Movements Management System. Redesign Phase 1. (DAMMS-R1). Volume 3.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-12-31

    Maintan -.ountry-TbI e CARDINALiii 134; HL~.,N-L.". 1); bL t i 11L h I...MEMO: FCityCd-Memo SOURCE IS: ’TMAS DAlA MODEL’ ATTRIBUTE IS: MEDIA ’DISK’ SEC-CLASS ’UNCLASSIFIED’ volatility ’DYNAMIC’I UPDATE- METHOD ’INTERACTIVE...8217 ATTRIBUTE IS: MEDIA ’DISK’ SEC-CLASS ’UNCLASSIFIED’ volatility ’STATTO’ UPDATE- METHOD ’INTERACTIVE’ UPDATE-FREQUENCY ’AS PER CHANGE’ Tt.LLE-FORM ’COMMAND’

  17. Evaluation of Advanced Microwave Landing System Procedures in the New York Terminal Area

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-03-01

    sector controller called the CAMRN sector who must then sequence that traffic with multiple feeders from the south before handing off to the final...Right (13R) were all being used by landing traffic, the final controller handled the runway 22 arrivals and the CAMRN controller handled the runway 13R...Feeder Fix AAL678 DC10 H 00:09:00 AAL68 B767 H 00:23:00 AAL588 A300 H 00:27:00 PAA224 A300 H 01:20:00 4/ TWAll L101 H 01:34:00 CAMRN Feeder Fix DAL144

  18. Isolation of Plasmids in Legionella pneumophila and Legionella-Like Organisms

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-03-01

    McKinney, D. J. Brenner, C. of the narrow spectrum of antibiotics effective W. Moss. D. H. Dal, B. MW. Thomason, and R. A. in the treatment of diseases ...McI~ade, J1. E., D. .J. Brenner and F. MW. Bozenman. microorganisms. 19.79. Legionnaires ’ disease bacterium tsolatedl in 1947. Ann. Intern. Med. 90...data not shown). samples we’re subjected to ’lrlt1pltorn’. , s in P ’ aget h rose at 2 mA for 60 rin m lfolud h hv .50 mA i,r 210 The recovery of

  19. Sulfur Isotopic Composition of Sulfides in Skarn and Vein Mineralization of the Dal'negorsk Ore Region (Primorye)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rogulina, L. I.; Moiseenko, V. G.; Odarichenko, E. G.; Voropayeva, E. N.

    2018-03-01

    The S isotopic composition in the ore-forming minerals galena and sphalerite was studied in different Ag-Pb-Zn deposits of the region. It was pointed out that the δ34S modal values range from-1.2 to +6.7‰ in the minerals with a positive value for the skarn mineralization. In the flyschoid formation, the vein-type mineralization is characterized by negative and positive values. The narrow range of δ34S values indicates the marginal-continental type of the mineralization and the multiple origins of its sources.

  20. Imagineering the astronomical revolution - Essay review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jardine, Nicholas.

    2006-11-01

    Concerning following Books: (I) Transmitting knowledge - words, images, and instruments in early modern Europe. Kusukawa and Maclean (eds.), OUP, Oxford, 2006; (II) Widmung, Welterklärung und Wissenschaftslegitimierung: Titelbilder und ihre Funktionen in der wissenschaftlichen Revolution. Remmert, Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 2005; (III) The power of images in early modern science. Lefevre, Renn and Schoepflin (eds.), Birkhäuser, Basel, 2003; (IV) Immagini per conoscere - dal Rinascimento alla rivoluzione scientifica. Meroi and Pogliano (eds.), Olschki, Florenz, 2001; (V) Erkenntnis Erfindung Konstruktion - Studien zur Bildgeschichte von Naturwissenschaften und Technik vom 16. bis zum 19. Jahrhundert. Holländer (ed.), Mann, Berlin, 2000.

  1. Modular VO oriented Java EE service deployer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Molinaro, Marco; Cepparo, Francesco; De Marco, Marco; Knapic, Cristina; Apollo, Pietro; Smareglia, Riccardo

    2014-07-01

    The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) has produced many standards and recommendations whose aim is to generate an architecture that starts from astrophysical resources, in a general sense, and ends up in deployed consumable services (that are themselves astrophysical resources). Focusing on the Data Access Layer (DAL) system architecture, that these standards define, in the last years a web based application has been developed and maintained at INAF-OATs IA2 (Italian National institute for Astrophysics - Astronomical Observatory of Trieste, Italian center of Astronomical Archives) to try to deploy and manage multiple VO (Virtual Observatory) services in a uniform way: VO-Dance. However a set of criticalities have arisen since when the VO-Dance idea has been produced, plus some major changes underwent and are undergoing at the IVOA DAL layer (and related standards): this urged IA2 to identify a new solution for its own service layer. Keeping on the basic ideas from VO-Dance (simple service configuration, service instantiation at call time and modularity) while switching to different software technologies (e.g. dismissing Java Reflection in favour of Enterprise Java Bean, EJB, based solution), the new solution has been sketched out and tested for feasibility. Here we present the results originating from this test study. The main constraints for this new project come from various fields. A better homogenized solution rising from IVOA DAL standards: for example the new DALI (Data Access Layer Interface) specification that acts as a common interface system for previous and oncoming access protocols. The need for a modular system where each component is based upon a single VO specification allowing services to rely on common capabilities instead of homogenizing them inside service components directly. The search for a scalable system that takes advantage from distributed systems. The constraints find answer in the adopted solutions hereafter sketched. The development of the new system using Java Enterprise technologies can better benefit from existing libraries to build up the single tokens implementing the IVOA standards. Each component can be built from single standards and each deployed service (i.e. service components instantiations) can consume the other components' exposed methods and services without the need of homogenizing them in dedicated libraries. Scalability can be achieved in an easier way by deploying components or sets of services on a distributed environment and using JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) and RMI (Remote Method Invocation) technologies. Single service configuration will not be significantly different from the VO-Dance solution given that Java class instantiation that benefited from Java Reflection will only be moved to Java EJB pooling (and not, e.g. embedded in bundles for subsequent deployment).

  2. Drought trends in the Iberian Peninsula over the last 112 years

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouveia, Célia M.; Ramos, Patrícia; Russo, Ana; Trigo, Ricardo M.

    2015-04-01

    The Iberian Peninsula is often affected by drought events with strong influences in ecosystems and the related social and economic impacts (Gouveia et al. 2012, Trigo et al., 2013). In the last decades the severity of droughts in Iberia have increased due to the higher atmospheric evaporative demand (Vicente-Serrano et al., 2014). The need for a deeper knowledge of drought frequency, duration and intensity over the Iberian Peninsula during the last 112 years is reinforced by the findings showing that the period of 1970-2010 over the Mediterranean region was considered drier when compared with 1901-1970. Together with the increasing dryness, the projections point for an increase of drought conditions during the twenty-first century (Hoerling et al., 2012) will tend to exacerbate these problems. The evolution of drought in the Iberian Peninsula was analyzed, using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), for the period 1901-2012, and the sub-periods 1901-1937, 1938-1974 and 1975-2012. We have used SPI and SPEI for the time scale of 12 months, as obtained from CRU TS3.21 database between 1901 and 2012, using a spatial resolution of 0.5°. The drought indices were analyzed in order to identify significant trends during the entire period and sub-periods. Trends in annual precipitation and PET were also performed. Drought's duration, magnitude and time spanned between drought events were computed. SPI and SPEI significant trends show areas with opposite signals in the period 1901-2012, following precipitation patterns. Precipitation trends are significant and positive in the Northwestern region of the IP, and significant and negative in the Southern areas. SPEI identified dryer conditions and an increase in the area affected by droughts, which is in agreement with the increase in PET on the majority of the territory. The same spatial differences were identified in the drought duration, magnitude and time between drought events, although no clear pattern has emerged. Gouveia C.M., Bastos A., Trigo R.M., DaCamara C.C. (2012) "Drought impacts on vegetation in the pre and post-fire events over Iberian Peninsula". Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 12, 3123-3137, 2012. Hoerling, M., Eischeid, J., Perlwitz, J., Quan, X., Zhang, T., and Pegion, P. (2012). On the increased frequency of Mediterranean drought. J. Clim., 25, 2146-2161. Trigo R.M., Añel J., Barriopedro D., García-Herrera R., Gimeno L., Nieto R., Castillo R., Allen M.R., Massey N. (2013), The record Winter drought of 2011-12 in the Iberian Peninsula [in "Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective". [Peterson, T. C., M. P. Hoerling, P.A. Stott and S. Herring, Eds.] Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 94 (9), S41-S45. Vicente-Serrano S.M., López-Moreno J.I., Beguería S., Lorenzo-Lacruz J., Sanchez-Lorenzo A., García-Ruiz J.M., Azorin-Molina C., Móran-Tejeda E., Revuelto J., Trigo R., Coelho F., Espejo F.: Evidence of increasing drought severity caused by temperature rise in southern Europe. Environmental Research Letters, 9, 044001, 2014. Acknowledgements: This work was partially supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal) under project QSECA (PTDC/AAGGLO/4155/2012).

  3. The combined influence of the main European circulation patterns on carbon uptake by ecosystems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bastos, Ana; Gouveia, Célia; Trigo, Ricardo

    2014-05-01

    Understanding how natural climate variability affects carbon uptake by land and ocean pools is particularly relevant to better characterize human impact on the carbon cycle. Recently, we have contributed to assess the major role played by the El-Niño/Southern Oscillation in driving inter-annual variability (IAV) of carbon uptake by land ecosystems and significantly influencing global CO2 air-borne fraction [1]. Despite the prominent role played by ENSO, other important teleconnections on the hemispheric scale have deserved less attention. On the European scale, the main mode of variability is the North-Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), which controls storm tracks position and drives changes in temperature and precipitation over the whole region, affecting vegetation dynamics [2]. Besides NAO, a few additional large scale circulation patterns the Scandinavian (SC) and East-Atlantic (EA) Patterns, are also known to influence significantly the European climate [3]. Different combinations of these teleconnection polarities have been recently shown to modulate the overall role of the NAO impact location and strength, thus affecting winter temperature and precipitation patterns over Europe [4]. This work aims to answer the following questions: (i) how do NAO, EA and SC affect vegetation carbon uptake IAV? (ii) do the interactions between these three modes have a significant impact on land CO2 IAV? (iii) what is the contribution of the different physical variables to ecosystems' response to these modes? (iv) how well do the state-of-the-art Earth System Models (ESMs) from CMIP5 represent these climate variability modes and the corresponding carbon fluxes? We first analyze observational data to assess the relationships between the different combinations of NAO, SC and EA polarities and IAV of gross and net primary production (GPP and NPP, respectively), as well as the most relevant driving factors of ecosystem's response to those variability patterns. Although the winter state of NAO has, as expected, the largest impact on European-wide carbon uptake patterns, the other modes appear to have a strong influence in particular regions, presenting overlapping effects with different signs which are due to differentiated responses to temperature and precipitation variability. We then rely on the historical experiment (CO2 concentration driven) of 12 ESMs from CMIP5 to assess the capability of those models to represent NAO, EA and SC patterns, the associated physical variables as well as the corresponding land carbon fluxes. Although all models simulate NAO reasonably well, and most represent EA and SC patterns satisfactorily, the response of the carbon cycle to these variability modes still needs further improvements. References [1] Bastos, A., Running, S. W., Gouveia, C.M., Trigo, R.M., (2013): J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosci.,118, 1247-1255, doi:10.1002/jgrg.20100. [2] Gouveia, C.M., Trigo, R. M., DaCamara, C. C., Libonati, R., Pereira, J. M. C. (2008): Int. J. Climatol., 28, 1835-1847, doi: 10.1002/joc.1682. [3] Trigo R.M., Valente M.A., Trigo I.F., Miranda P.M., Ramos A.M., Paredes D., García-Herrera R. (2008): Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1146, 212-234, doi: 10.1196/annals.1446.014. [4] Comas-Bru, L., McDermott, F. (2013): Q.J.R. Meteorol. Soc., doi: 10.1002/qj.2158.

  4. Heterologous Expression Implicates a GATA Factor in Regulation of Nitrogen Metabolic Genes and Ion Homeostasis in the Halotolerant Yeast Debaryomyces hansenii†

    PubMed Central

    García-Salcedo, Raúl; Casamayor, Antonio; Ruiz, Amparo; González, Asier; Prista, Catarina; Loureiro-Dias, Maria C.; Ramos, José; Ariño, Joaquín

    2006-01-01

    The yeast Debaryomyces hansenii has a remarkable capacity to proliferate in salty and alkaline environments such as seawater. A screen for D. hansenii genes able to confer increased tolerance to high pH when overexpressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yielded a single gene, named here DhGZF3, encoding a putative negative GATA transcription factor related to S. cerevisiae Dal80 and Gzf3. Overexpression of this gene in wild-type S. cerevisiae increased caffeine and rapamycin tolerance, blocked growth in low glucose concentrations and nonfermentable carbon sources, and resulted in lithium- and sodium-sensitive cells. Sensitivity to salt could be attributed to a reduced cation efflux, most likely because of a decrease in expression of the ENA1 Na+-ATPase gene. Overexpression of DhGZF3 did not affect cell growth in a gat1 mutant but was lethal in the absence of Gln3. These are positive factors that oppose both Gzf3 and Dal80. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of wild-type cells overexpressing DhGZF3 shows decreased expression of a number of genes that are usually induced in poor nitrogen sources. In addition, the entire pathway leading to Lys biosynthesis was repressed, probably as a result of a decrease in the expression of the specific Lys14 transcription factor. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that DhGzf3 can play a role as a negative GATA transcription factor when expressed in S. cerevisiae and that it most probably represents the only member of this family in D. hansenii. These findings also point to the GATA transcription factors as relevant elements for alkaline-pH tolerance. PMID:16896222

  5. Insect emergence in relation to floods in wet meadows and swamps in the River Dalälven floodplain.

    PubMed

    Vinnersten, T Z Persson; Östman, Ö; Schäfer, M L; Lundström, J O

    2014-08-01

    Annual variation in flood frequency and hydroperiod during the vegetation season has ecological impacts on the floodplain biota. Although many insect groups may have a lower emergence during a flood event, it is poorly known how annual emergence of insects in temporary wetlands is related to the variation in hydrology. Between May and September, we studied the weekly emergence of 18 insect taxa over six consecutive years, 2002-2007, in six temporary flooded wetlands (four wet meadows and two forest swamps) in the River Dalälven floodplains, Central Sweden. We used emergence traps to collect emerging insects from terrestrial and aquatic parts of wet meadows and swamp forests. In all wetlands, the insect fauna was numerically dominated by the orders Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Homoptera. On a weekly basis, 9 out of the 18 insect taxa had lower emergence in weeks with flood than in weeks with no flood, whereas no taxon had a higher emergence in weeks with flood. Over the seasons, we related insect emergence to seasonal flood frequency and length of hydroperiod. The emergence of most studied taxa decreased with increasing hydroperiod, which suggests that emergence after floods do not compensate for the reduced emergence during floods. Only Culicidae and the aquatic Chironomidae sub-families Tanypodinae and Chironominae showed an increase in emergence with increasing hydroperiod, whereas Staphylinidae peaked at intermediate hydroperiod. We conclude that a hydroperiod covering up to 40% of the vegetation season has a significant negative effect on the emergence of most taxa and that only a few taxa occurring in the temporary wetlands are actually favoured by a flood regime with recurrent and unpredictable floods.

  6. Concerted evolution of life stage performances signals recent selection on yeast nitrogen use.

    PubMed

    Ibstedt, Sebastian; Stenberg, Simon; Bagés, Sara; Gjuvsland, Arne B; Salinas, Francisco; Kourtchenko, Olga; Samy, Jeevan K A; Blomberg, Anders; Omholt, Stig W; Liti, Gianni; Beltran, Gemma; Warringer, Jonas

    2015-01-01

    Exposing natural selection driving phenotypic and genotypic adaptive differentiation is an extraordinary challenge. Given that an organism's life stages are exposed to the same environmental variations, we reasoned that fitness components, such as the lag, rate, and efficiency of growth, directly reflecting performance in these life stages, should often be selected in concert. We therefore conjectured that correlations between fitness components over natural isolates, in a particular environmental context, would constitute a robust signal of recent selection. Critically, this test for selection requires fitness components to be determined by different genetic loci. To explore our conjecture, we exhaustively evaluated the lag, rate, and efficiency of asexual population growth of natural isolates of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a large variety of nitrogen-limited environments. Overall, fitness components were well correlated under nitrogen restriction. Yeast isolates were further crossed in all pairwise combinations and coinheritance of each fitness component and genetic markers were traced. Trait variations tended to map to quantitative trait loci (QTL) that were private to a single fitness component. We further traced QTLs down to single-nucleotide resolution and uncovered loss-of-function mutations in RIM15, PUT4, DAL1, and DAL4 as the genetic basis for nitrogen source use variations. Effects of SNPs were unique for a single fitness component, strongly arguing against pleiotropy between lag, rate, and efficiency of reproduction under nitrogen restriction. The strong correlations between life stage performances that cannot be explained by pleiotropy compellingly support adaptive differentiation of yeast nitrogen source use and suggest a generic approach for detecting selection. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  7. Deletion of the uracil permease gene confers cross-resistance to 5-fluorouracil and azoles in Candida lusitaniae and highlights antagonistic interaction between fluorinated nucleotides and fluconazole.

    PubMed

    Gabriel, Frédéric; Sabra, Ayman; El-Kirat-Chatel, Sofiane; Pujol, Sophie; Fitton-Ouhabi, Valérie; Brèthes, Daniel; Dementhon, Karine; Accoceberry, Isabelle; Noël, Thierry

    2014-08-01

    We characterized two additional membrane transporters (Fur4p and Dal4p) of the nucleobase cation symporter 1 (NCS1) family involved in the uptake transport of pyrimidines and related molecules in the opportunistic pathogenic yeast Candida lusitaniae. Simple and multiple null mutants were constructed by gene deletion and genetic crosses. The function of each transporter was characterized by supplementation experiments, and the kinetic parameters of the uptake transport of uracil were measured using radiolabeled substrate. Fur4p specifically transports uracil and 5-fluorouracil. Dal4p is very close to Fur4p and transports allantoin (glyoxyldiureide). Deletion of the FUR4 gene confers resistance to 5-fluorouracil as well as cross-resistance to triazoles and imidazole antifungals when they are used simultaneously with 5-fluorouracil. However, the nucleobase transporters are not involved in azole uptake. Only fluorinated pyrimidines, not pyrimidines themselves, are able to promote cross-resistance to azoles by both the salvage and the de novo pathway of pyrimidine synthesis. A reinterpretation of the data previously obtained led us to show that subinhibitory doses of 5-fluorocytosine, 5-fluorouracil, and 5-fluorouridine also were able to trigger resistance to fluconazole in susceptible wild-type strains of C. lusitaniae and of different Candida species. Our results suggest that intracellular fluorinated nucleotides play a key role in azole resistance, either by preventing azoles from targeting the lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase or its catalytic site or by acting as a molecular switch for the triggering of efflux transport. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  8. Morphological "primary homology" and expression of AG-subfamily MADS-box genes in pines, podocarps, and yews.

    PubMed

    Englund, Marie; Carlsbecker, Annelie; Engström, Peter; Vergara-Silva, Francisco

    2011-01-01

    The morphological variation among reproductive organs of extant gymnosperms is remarkable, especially among conifers. Several hypotheses concerning morphological homology between various conifer reproductive organs have been put forward, in particular in relation to the pine ovuliferous scale. Here, we use the expression patterns of orthologs of the ABC-model MADS-box gene AGAMOUS (AG) for testing morphological homology hypotheses related to organs of the conifer female cone. To this end, we first developed a tailored 3'RACE procedure that allows reliable amplification of partial sequences highly similar to gymnosperm-derived members of the AG-subfamily of MADS-box genes. Expression patterns of two novel conifer AG orthologs cloned with this procedure-namely PodAG and TgAG, obtained from the podocarp Podocarpus reichei and the yew Taxus globosa, respectively-are then further characterized in the morphologically divergent female cones of these species. The expression patterns of PodAG and TgAG are compared with those of DAL2, a previously discovered Picea abies (Pinaceae) AG ortholog. By treating the expression patterns of DAL2, PodAG, and TgAG as character states mapped onto currently accepted cladogram topologies, we suggest that the epimatium-that is, the podocarp female cone organ previously postulated as a "modified" ovuliferous scale-and the canonical Pinaceae ovuliferous scale can be legitimally conceptualized as "primary homologs." Character state mapping for TgAG suggests in turn that the aril of Taxaceae should be considered as a different type of organ. This work demonstrates how the interaction between developmental-genetic data and formal cladistic theory could fruitfully contribute to gymnosperm systematics. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. [Frequency of depression in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2].

    PubMed

    Garduño-Espinosa, J; Téllez-Zenteno, J F; Hernández-Ronquillo, L

    1998-01-01

    To determine the prevalence of depression in Mexican adult diabetics and to identify factors associated to the depression. Prolective survey. Four Mexico City hospitals (Clinica San Pedro de los Pinos IMSS, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI IMSS, Hospital Gea González SSa and Centro de Salud Margarita Chorne SSa). 79 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. The Beck Depression Inventory was used as a measure of depression. We used sociodemographic variables (age, gender, marital status, religion, education, occupation, socioeconomic status) and disease variables (years of diagnosis, other chronic medical conditions and compliance with therapeutic regimens) as the independent variables of depression. Mean age was 59 +/- 11 years (SD) and 58 (73%) were females. The frequency of depression was 46%. Factors associated to depression were: females (OR = 3.67, CI = 1.07-13.3, p = 0.03) and years of diagnosis above 15 (OR = 3.08, CI = 0.91-10.8, p = 0.07). Frequency of depression was high (46%). Gender and years of diabetes diagnosis were factors associated to depression.

  10. Mucoadhesive ophthalmic vehicles: evaluation of polymeric low-viscosity formulations.

    PubMed

    Saettone, M F; Monti, D; Torracca, M T; Chetoni, P

    1994-01-01

    A series of polyanionic natural or semi-synthetic polymers (polygalacturonic acid, hyaluronic acid, carboxymethylamylose, carboxymethylchitin, chondroitin sulfate, heparan sulfate and mesoglycan) were evaluated as potential mucoadhesive carriers for ophthalmic drugs. Solutions containing cyclopentolate (CY) or pilocarpine (PI) as salts (or polyanionic complexes) with the acidic polymers, all showing a low viscosity, were tested for miotic (resp. mydriatic) activity in albino rabbits. In the case of some polymeric complexes, small but significant increases of the areas under the activity vs. time curves (AUC) over reference cyclopentolate hydrochloride (CYHC1) or pilocarpine nitrate (PINO3) vehicles, and significant AUC decreases after removal of precorneal mucin by treatment with N-acetylcysteine were observed. A correlation was found between these data, considered indicative of the occurrence of a mucoadhesive interaction "in vivo", and "in vitro" viscometric data expressing the polymers-mucin force of interaction. The advantages and limitations of the mucoadhesive non-viscous approach in the formulation of ophthalmic vehicles are presented and discussed.

  11. SRTM Perspective View with Landsat Overlay: Mt. Pinos, California

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2001-01-01

    Prominently displayed in this image, Mt. Pinos, at 2,692 meters (8,831 feet) is the highest peak in the Los Padres National Forest. Named for the mantle of pine trees covering its slopes and summit, it offers one of the best stargazing sites in Southern California. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data were combined with Landsat data to generate this perspective view looking toward the northwest. Not only is the mountain popular with astronomers and astro-photographers, it is also popular for hiking trails and winter sports.

    The broad low relief area in the right foreground is Cuddy Valley. Cuddy Valley Road is the bright line on the right (north)side of the valley. Just to the left and paralleling the road is a scarp (cliff) formed by the San Andreas fault. The fault slices through the mountains here and then bends and continues onto the Carrizo Plain (right center horizon). This entire segment of the San Andreas fault broke in a major earthquake in 1857.

    Landsat has been providing visible and infrared views of the Earth since 1972. SRTM elevation data match the 30-meter(98-foot) resolution of most Landsat images and will substantially help in analyses of the large and growing Landsat image archive. For visualization purposes, topographic heights displayed in this image are exaggerated two times. Colors approximate natural colors.

    The elevation data used in this image was acquired by SRTM aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, launched on February 11,2000. SRTM used the same radar instrument that comprised the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) that flew twice on Endeavour in 1994. SRTM was designed to collect three-dimensional measurements of Earth's land surface. To collect the 3-D SRTM data, engineers added a mast 60 meters (about 200 feet)long, installed additional C-band and X-band antennas, and improved tracking and navigation devices. The mission is a cooperative project between the NASA, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) of the U.S. Department of Defense, and the German and Italian space agencies. It is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, Washington, D.C. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

    Distance to Horizon: 176 kilometers (109 miles) Location: 34.8 deg. North lat., 119.1 deg. West lon. View: Toward the Northwest Date Acquired: February 16, 2000 SRTM, December 14, 1984 Landsat

  12. Preliminary results from comparisons of redundant tiltmeters at three sites in central california

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Mortensen, C.E.; Johnston, M.J.S.

    1979-01-01

    The U.S. Geological Survey has been operating a network of shallow-borehole tiltmeters in central California since June 1973. At six sites redundant instruments have been installed as a check on data coherency. These include the Sage Ranch, Tres Pinos, New Idria, Aromas, Bear Valley and San Juan Bautista tiltmeter sites. Preliminary results from the comparison of redundant data from the Aromas, Bear Valley and San Juan Bautista sites for periods of eight, three and seven months respectively, suggest that short period tilt signals in the range 5 min < T < 3-5 h and ranging in amplitude from 5 ?? 10-8 to 10-6 rad, but not including step offsets, show excellent agreement on closely spaced instruments. Agreement is not as good in this period range for instruments at San Juan Bautista with a separation of 200 m. Signals of interest observed in this period range include coseismic tilts, teleseisms and tilts associated with creep events. Tilt signals in the period range 3-5 h < T < 2- 5 weeks are not always coherent at all three of the redundant tilt sites studied. Tilt signals in this period range have amplitudes up to 5 ?? 10-6 rad and wavelengths down to at least the instrument separation at the closely spaced sites (~several meters). Regarding longerterm coherency, the instruments at San Juan Bautista with 200-m spacing, agree within 0.5 ??rad for the N-S component and 0.7 jurad for the E-W component for a period of two months. The closely spaced redundant instruments at Aromas agree within 2 ??rad for the N-S component and 1 ??rad for the E-W component for the eight-month period of operation. Data from the three sites have been checked for effects of temperature, atmospheric pressure and rainfall. The latter appears to be critically site dependent. The worst case tilts for 1 inch of rainfall can be more than 1 jurad with a duration of a few days to a week. Typical rain-induced tilts are less than 0.3 ??rad for 1 inch of rain. The two instruments at the Sage Ranch site have been in operation for the longest period. However, they have shown local site or ground instability, high drift and lack of coherency since installation. Data are not yet available from the Tres Pinos or New Idria instruments. Deeper installation appears necessary for these instruments and two alternative methods of tiltmeter emplacement are currently being tested in an attempt to evaluate the depth, spatial and temporal dependency of surface tilt sources. ?? 1979.

  13. Low-Temperature Coarsening and Plastic-Flow Behavior of an Alpha/Beta Titanium Billet Material With an Ultrafine Microstructure

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-04-01

    lamellae which had not fully globularized by the warm working operation. These ‘dog- leg ’ shaped particles (e.g., those marked by arrows in Figure 1c...the micrograph. Those particles consisting of a ‘dog- leg ’ geometry were counted as being 1.5 particles in number to provide an approximate estimate...0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1000/T(K) Beta Transus (995C) lo g (A D , m 2 / s) d = d d = d Q=160 kJ/mol Q=284 kJ/mol n=1.67 p=2 DV DAl DTi 47

  14. The Underwater Shock Analysis Code (USA-Version 3): A Reference Manual.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-09-15

    Library Manager EZ-DAL of the NOSTRA Data Management System", LMSC-D626839, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, California, July 1978...Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, California, September 1977 [23] C. A. Felippa, "Skymatrix Processing Utility Library (SKYPUL) Users...w mooC c ’ OI 0 IdQ Cc I 7’-) C’C uiz 0 l W Z 4 Z * a l -A 0 W J /0 4 ZWI < (’( j U ( LL J0 ’M - ~ i WLn Z-4i z (r 0 JWz t 33 > 0~a aw d z .TO/ Ca

  15. Dischi (E Jet) Nelle Stelle Massicce Giovani

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cesaroni, Riccardo

    2017-11-01

    In questo contributo verrà discussa l'importanza dei dischi e jet ad essi asso- ciati per la formazione delle stelle di tipo spettrale OB e verranno presentati i risultati recentemente ottenuti con ALMA in questo ambito. In particolare mostr- eremo che la struttura del disco sembra risentire della complessità dell'ambiente circostante e che la probabilità di rivelare un disco attorno alle stelle di più alta massa è massima in una fase evolutiva intermedia. Infine discuteremo la possibilità che il fenomeno di accrescimento dal disco sulla stella possa avvenire in maniera discontinua mediante "burst", probabilmente dovuti ad instabilità nel disco.

  16. Calcic amphibole thermobarometry in metamorphic and igneous rocks: New calibrations based on plagioclase/amphibole Al-Si partitioning and amphibole/liquid Mg partitioning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Molina, J. F.; Moreno, J. A.; Castro, A.; Rodríguez, C.; Fershtater, G. B.

    2015-09-01

    Dependencies of plagioclase/amphibole Al-Si partitioning, DAl/Siplg/amp, and amphibole/liquid Mg partitioning, DMgamp/liq, on temperature, pressure and phase compositions are investigated employing robust regression methods based on MM-estimators. A database with 92 amphibole-plagioclase pairs - temperature range: 650-1050 °C; amphibole compositional limits: > 0.02 apfu (23O) Ti and > 0.05 apfu Al - and 148 amphibole-glass pairs - temperature range: 800-1100 °C; amphibole compositional limit: CaM4/(CaM4 + NaM4) > 0.75 - compiled from experiments in the literature was used for the calculations (amphibole normalization scheme: 13-CNK method).

  17. Patrick Air Force Base Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-09-01

    CE 00 0O L 2- E0 .0 cl ci = 0 L) cz C C 00 H cz - ~.CIn U -. 0 0 - - E o nC .C) 0 2;l C)i En C) u C CIO cz _ C>) C) 0 u E-) a) Z L) 0o~bo coo 0 - . cn...as soon as practi-distated and lo dal c rq ir nts anderas, cable after significant modification areS tate, an d local req u irem en ts an d asm a e t...the duration between the storm event and fecal coliform (counts per 100 mL). sampled and the end of the previous measur- able (greater than 0.1 inch

  18. Performance of Solid Fuel Ramjet Guided Projectile for USN 5 inch/54 Caliber Gun System

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-03-01

    porn .62040.5#01 0.5’)’ ’V 0. SI:1:,3.)~󈨞 13’ 0 0. ?l04 13..1270 0.1 P’E 02 0.?V: 04 1. 21.1?04 95f t 1jfl 0. %1:1 F1’.0Ol’C)1.3 ~ 0 to 11 j :.b17...34 - 0..’’ f: fILFI Dog 0 A OV~AL V STgpi0quATlF SUM1W1.40 Mo 022o-op0.13f-0 .6?r-z 012?-ot .61T.4 FTtPR ENS A NfAVAL POTP~J~ E~li AGr Dal rC

  19. Dynamic cellular uptake of mixed-monolayer protected nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Carney, Randy P; Carney, Tamara M; Mueller, Marie; Stellacci, Francesco

    2012-12-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) are gaining increasing attention for potential application in medicine; consequently, studying their interaction with cells is of central importance. We found that both ligand arrangement and composition on gold nanoparticles play a crucial role in their cellular internalization. In our previous investigation, we showed that 66-34OT nanoparticles coated with stripe-like domains of hydrophobic (octanethiol, OT, 34%) and hydrophilic (11-mercaptoundecane sulfonate, MUS, 66%) ligands permeated through the cellular lipid bilayer via passive diffusion, in addition to endo-/pino-cytosis. Here, we show an analysis of NP internalization by DC2.4, 3T3, and HeLa cells at two temperatures and multiple time points. We study four NPs that differ in their surface structures and ligand compositions and report on their cellular internalization by intracellular fluorescence quantification. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy we have found that all three cell types internalize the 66-34OT NPs more than particles coated only with MUS, or particles coated with a very similar coating but lacking any detectable ligand shell structure, or 'striped' particles but with a different composition (34-66OT) at multiple data points.

  20. Mines, Quarries and Landscape. Visuality and Transformation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jimeno, Carlos López; Torrijos, Ignacio Díez; González, Carmen Mataix

    2016-06-01

    In this paper a review of two basic concepts is carried out: scenery and landscape integration, proposing a new concept: "visuality", alternative to the classical "visibility" used in landscape studies related to mining activity, which explores the qualitative aspects that define the visual relationships between observer and environment. In relation to landscape integration studies, some reflections on substantive issues are made which induce certain prejudices at the time of addressing the issue of mining operations landscape integration, and some guidance and integration strategies are formulated. In the second part of the text, a new approach to the landscape integration of mines and quarries is raised, closely linked to the concept of visuality which are based on a basic goal: the re-qualification of the place, and give innovative answers to re-qualify the place and show how to catch the opportunity in the deep transformation generated by the development of mining activities. As a conclusion, a case study is presented in the last section, the landscape integration study conducted on marble exploitations Coto Pinos (Alicante, Spain), considered the largest ornamental rock quarry in Europe.

  1. PGP repository: a plant phenomics and genomics data publication infrastructure

    PubMed Central

    Arend, Daniel; Junker, Astrid; Scholz, Uwe; Schüler, Danuta; Wylie, Juliane; Lange, Matthias

    2016-01-01

    Plant genomics and phenomics represents the most promising tools for accelerating yield gains and overcoming emerging crop productivity bottlenecks. However, accessing this wealth of plant diversity requires the characterization of this material using state-of-the-art genomic, phenomic and molecular technologies and the release of subsequent research data via a long-term stable, open-access portal. Although several international consortia and public resource centres offer services for plant research data management, valuable digital assets remains unpublished and thus inaccessible to the scientific community. Recently, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research and the German Plant Phenotyping Network have jointly initiated the Plant Genomics and Phenomics Research Data Repository (PGP) as infrastructure to comprehensively publish plant research data. This covers in particular cross-domain datasets that are not being published in central repositories because of its volume or unsupported data scope, like image collections from plant phenotyping and microscopy, unfinished genomes, genotyping data, visualizations of morphological plant models, data from mass spectrometry as well as software and documents. The repository is hosted at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research using e!DAL as software infrastructure and a Hierarchical Storage Management System as data archival backend. A novel developed data submission tool was made available for the consortium that features a high level of automation to lower the barriers of data publication. After an internal review process, data are published as citable digital object identifiers and a core set of technical metadata is registered at DataCite. The used e!DAL-embedded Web frontend generates for each dataset a landing page and supports an interactive exploration. PGP is registered as research data repository at BioSharing.org, re3data.org and OpenAIRE as valid EU Horizon 2020 open data archive. Above features, the programmatic interface and the support of standard metadata formats, enable PGP to fulfil the FAIR data principles—findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable. Database URL: http://edal.ipk-gatersleben.de/repos/pgp/ PMID:27087305

  2. [Effect of Electroacupuncture Stimulation of "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) on Spleen Lymphocytes Treg/Th 17 Immune Balance in Ulcerative Colitis Mice].

    PubMed

    Wang, Cheng-yu-lin; Zeng, Lin-lan; Geng, Yu; Wang, Xiang; Zhang, He-jiao; Yang, Hui; Wu, Qiao- feng; Yu, Shu-guang

    2016-02-01

    To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on spleen T-helper 17 (Th 17) and regulatory T (Treg) cell levels in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC), so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of UC. METHODS Kunming mice were randomized into control, UC model and EA groups, with 8 mice in each group. The UC model was established by giving the mice with 3% Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) for 5 days. EA (15 Hz/25 Hz, 0.1-0.2 mA) was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36, used alternatively) for 10 min, once a day for 5 days. The animals' disease activity index [DAl, = (body weight index score + stool score + bleeding score)/3; 0-4 points] were calculated. The pathological changes of colon tissues were observed by light microscopy after H. E. stain, and spleen Treg (CD⁴⁺ CD²⁵⁺ Foxp³⁺ Treg) and Th 17 (CD³⁺ CD⁸⁺ IL-17⁺ Th 17) lymphocyte levels were determined by flow cytometry. Compared to the control group, the DAl score and the ratio of Th 17/CD⁸⁺ T cells were significantly increased, while the ratio of Treg/CD⁴⁺ T cells obviously decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). After EA intervention, the increased DAI score and the ratio of Th 17/CD⁸⁺ T cells and the decreased Treg/CD⁴⁺ T cells were reversed (P < 0.05), and the inflammatory cell infiltration degree of the colon tissue was attenuated. EA intervention can improve the, UC rats' symptoms of activity state, bloody or viscidity stool and colonic inflammation, probably by regulating the balance between the spleenic Treg and Th 17 lymphocytes.

  3. Emotions during sexual activity: differences between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women.

    PubMed

    Nobre, Pedro J; Pinto-Gouveia, José

    2006-08-01

    The present study investigated the differences in emotional response to automatic thoughts presented during sexual activity between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women. A total of 376 participants (160 women and 120 men without sexual problems and 47 women and 49 men with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of sexual dysfunction) completed the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ male and female versions; P. J. Nobre & J. Pinto-Gouveia, 2000) and measures of sexual functioning: The International Index of Sexual Function (IIEF; R. C. Rosen et al., 1997), and The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; R. C. Rosen et al., 2000). The SMQ is a combined measure constituted by three interdependent subscales: Automatic Thought subscale (AT), Emotional Response subscale (ER), and Sexual Response subscale (SR). Emotions were assessed by the ER subscale, where participants endorsed emotional reactions (worry, sadness, disillusion, fear, guilt, shame, anger, hurt, pleasure, satisfaction) to a list of automatic thoughts (AT subscale) that may occur during sexual activity. Results showed that both men and women with sexual dysfunction had significantly less positive emotional reactions to automatic thoughts during sexual activity. Sexually dysfunctional men had significantly more emotions of sadness, disillusion, and fear, and less pleasure and satisfaction, compared to men without sexual problems. Women with sexual dysfunction had significantly less pleasure and satisfaction, and more sadness, disillusion, guilt, and anger. Findings were congruent with recent studies indicating that emotions related to depressed affect (sadness, disillusion, lack of pleasure) as opposed to negative emotions (mostly related to anxiety) were stronger correlates of sexual dysfunction.

  4. La méthode des coordonnées curvilignes appliquée à la diffraction par des réseaux dont le profil est donné par des équations paramétriques: application à la diffraction par un réseau cycloïdal The method of curvilinear coordinates applied to the problem of scattering from surface-relief gratings defined by parametric equations: application to scattering from a cycloidal grating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Granet, Gérard; Chandezon, Jean

    1997-11-01

    The method of curvilinear coordinates is formulated using the coordinate transformations given by parametric equations. As an illustration, a translation coordinate system and a relaxation coordinate system are used to calculate the reflectivities of various cycloidal profiles. We show, with this example, that parametric coordinate systems permit one to handle profiles that previously had been out of reach owing to their sharpness.

  5. [A Fragment Of De speculis comburentibus of Regiomontanus Copied by Toscanelli and Inserted in the Books of Leonardo (Codex Atlanticus, 611rb / 915ra)].

    PubMed

    Raynaud, Dominique

    2015-07-01

    This article studies a fragment on the conic sections that appear in the Codex Atlanticus, fols. 611rb/915ra. Arguments are put forward to assemble these two folios. Their comparison with the Latin texts available before 1500 shows that they derive from the De speculis comburentibus of Alhacen and the De speculis comburentibus of Regiomontanus, joined together in his autograph manuscript (Vienna, Oster. Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 5258). Having identified the sources, and discussed their mathematics, the issue of their transmission is targeted. It is shown that these notes were written by Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, through whom they reached the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci.

  6. [Modernity in dreams and myths].

    PubMed

    Scopelliti, Paolo

    2009-01-01

    The very presence of myths in psychoanalysis raises questions about their scientific status: that leads to reconsider the whole issue of Freudian mythology in a non-medical manner, by envisaging it in the more general context of modern myths, both political and artistic. Special attention is then paid to Surrealism, as the only avant-garde movement at the same time focused on psychoanalysis and politics: the role played by dreams in foundering myths is examined in both Surrealism and psychoanalysis. Surrealistic myths, such as Dalí's Grand Paranoïaque Comestible, finally prove to be so non-oedipian as the Nazi Ubermensch myth; nevertheless, their comparison with Freudian mythology points out their common origin, as they all fulfilled the need of the mass society for a modern myth, able to express his deeply renewed self-awareness.

  7. The response of creeping parts of the San Andreas fault to earthquakes on nearby faults: Two examples

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Simpson, R.W.; Schulz, S.S.; Dietz, L.D.; Burford, R.O.

    1988-01-01

    Rates of shallow slip on creeping sections of the San Andreas fault have been perturbed on a number of occasions by earthquakes occurring on nearby faults. One example of such perturbations occurred during the 26 January 1986 magnitude 5.3 Tres Pinos earthquake located about 10 km southeast of Hollister, California. Seven creepmeters on the San Andreas fault showed creep steps either during or soon after the shock. Both left-lateral (LL) and right-lateral (RL) steps were observed. A rectangular dislocation in an elastic half-space was used to model the coseismic fault offset at the hypocenter. For a model based on the preliminary focal mechanism, the predicted changes in static shear stress on the plane of the San Andreas fault agreed in sense (LL or RL) with the observed slip directions at all seven meters; for a model based on a refined focal mechanism, six of the seven meters showed the correct sense of motion. Two possible explanations for such coseismic and postseismic steps are (1) that slip was triggered by the earthquake shaking or (2) that slip occurred in response to the changes in static stress fields accompanying the earthquake. In the Tres Pinos example, the observed steps may have been of both the triggered and responsive kinds. A second example is provided by the 2 May 1983 magnitude 6.7 Coalinga earthquake, which profoundly altered slip rates at five creepmeters on the San Andreas fault for a period of months to years. The XMM1 meter 9 km northwest of Parkfield, California recorded LL creep for more than a year after the event. To simulate the temporal behavior of the XMM1 meter and to view the stress perturbation provided by the Coalinga earthquake in the context of steady-state deformation on the San Andreas fault, a simple time-evolving dislocation model was constructed. The model was driven by a single long vertical dislocation below 15 km in depth, that was forced to slip at 35 mm/yr in a RL sense. A dislocation element placed in the seismogenic layer under XMM1 was given a finite breaking strength of sufficient magnitude to produce a Parkfield-like earthquake every 22 years. When stress changes equivalent to a Coalinga earthquake were superposed on the model running in a steady state mode, the effect was to make a segment under XMM1, that could slip in a linear viscous fashion, creep LL and to delay the onset of the next Parkfield-like earthquake by a year or more. If static stress changes imposed by earthquakes off the San Andreas can indeed advance or delay earthquakes on the San Andreas by months or years, then such changes must be considered in intermediate-term prediction efforts. ?? 1988 Birkha??user Verlag.

  8. PGP repository: a plant phenomics and genomics data publication infrastructure.

    PubMed

    Arend, Daniel; Junker, Astrid; Scholz, Uwe; Schüler, Danuta; Wylie, Juliane; Lange, Matthias

    2016-01-01

    Plant genomics and phenomics represents the most promising tools for accelerating yield gains and overcoming emerging crop productivity bottlenecks. However, accessing this wealth of plant diversity requires the characterization of this material using state-of-the-art genomic, phenomic and molecular technologies and the release of subsequent research data via a long-term stable, open-access portal. Although several international consortia and public resource centres offer services for plant research data management, valuable digital assets remains unpublished and thus inaccessible to the scientific community. Recently, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research and the German Plant Phenotyping Network have jointly initiated the Plant Genomics and Phenomics Research Data Repository (PGP) as infrastructure to comprehensively publish plant research data. This covers in particular cross-domain datasets that are not being published in central repositories because of its volume or unsupported data scope, like image collections from plant phenotyping and microscopy, unfinished genomes, genotyping data, visualizations of morphological plant models, data from mass spectrometry as well as software and documents.The repository is hosted at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research using e!DAL as software infrastructure and a Hierarchical Storage Management System as data archival backend. A novel developed data submission tool was made available for the consortium that features a high level of automation to lower the barriers of data publication. After an internal review process, data are published as citable digital object identifiers and a core set of technical metadata is registered at DataCite. The used e!DAL-embedded Web frontend generates for each dataset a landing page and supports an interactive exploration. PGP is registered as research data repository at BioSharing.org, re3data.org and OpenAIRE as valid EU Horizon 2020 open data archive. Above features, the programmatic interface and the support of standard metadata formats, enable PGP to fulfil the FAIR data principles-findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable.Database URL:http://edal.ipk-gatersleben.de/repos/pgp/. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press.

  9. Fasting launches CRTC to facilitate long-term memory formation in Drosophila.

    PubMed

    Hirano, Yukinori; Masuda, Tomoko; Naganos, Shintaro; Matsuno, Motomi; Ueno, Kohei; Miyashita, Tomoyuki; Horiuchi, Junjiro; Saitoe, Minoru

    2013-01-25

    Canonical aversive long-term memory (LTM) formation in Drosophila requires multiple spaced trainings, whereas appetitive LTM can be formed after a single training. Appetitive LTM requires fasting prior to training, which increases motivation for food intake. However, we found that fasting facilitated LTM formation in general; aversive LTM formation also occurred after single-cycle training when mild fasting was applied before training. Both fasting-dependent LTM (fLTM) and spaced training-dependent LTM (spLTM) required protein synthesis and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB) activity. However, spLTM required CREB activity in two neural populations--mushroom body and DAL neurons--whereas fLTM required CREB activity only in mushroom body neurons. fLTM uses the CREB coactivator CRTC, whereas spLTM uses the coactivator CBP. Thus, flies use distinct LTM machinery depending on their hunger state.

  10. [Mirror image of the ego. On Jacques Lacan's theory of the imaginary].

    PubMed

    Gekle, H

    1995-08-01

    Lacan places the concept of the imaginary alongside the categories of the real and the symbolic. This concept plays a highly prominent role in his thinking, given that the essential determination of the imaginary is the primary relation of the ego to the image of the similar. Thus it is not surprising that unlike Freud the early Lacan acceded to the status of theoretician of surrealism, his decentralization of the cogito having a profound effect on Dalí in particular. The author shows that non-identity and paranoic anamorphosis are only conceivable as the forms of the imaginary absolutised by Lacan if they are seen in relation to an Oedipally constructed cogito--just as mannerism regularly follows classicism and cannot be conceived of separately from it. If Freud was a classicist, Lacan was the mannerist who came after him--except that the latter refused to countenance this connection.

  11. Calibrating and monitoring the western gray whale mitigation zone and estimating acoustic transmission during a 3D seismic survey, Sakhalin Island, Russia.

    PubMed

    Rutenko, A N; Borisov, S V; Gritsenko, A V; Jenkerson, M R

    2007-11-01

    A 3D marine seismic survey of the Odoptu license area off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia, was conducted by DalMorNefteGeofizika (DMNG) on behalf of Exxon Neftegas Limited and the Sakhalin-1 consortium during mid-August through early September 2001. The key environmental issue identified in an environmental impact assessment was protection of the critically endangered western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), which spends the summer-fall open water period feeding off northeast Sakhalin Island in close proximity to the seismic survey area. Seismic mitigation and monitoring guidelines and recommendations were developed and implemented to reduce impacts on the feeding activity of western gray whales. Results of the acoustic monitoring program indicated that the noise monitoring and mitigation program was successful in reducing exposure of feeding western gray whales to seismic noise.

  12. Teachers Explore Earth Science in South America

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Passow, Michael; Krusche, Nisia; Carneiro, Celso D. R.

    2010-11-01

    Rain, Rocks, and Climate: A Geophysical Information for Teachers Workshop; Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, 8-9 August 2010; Classroom teachers and university professors from two continents joined to learn about “rocks, rain, and climate” in the Geophysical Information for Teachers (GIFT) workshop at the AGU Meeting of the Americas held in Brazil. This was the first GIFT workshop in South America. GIFT workshops have long been part of AGU Fall Meetings in San Francisco, European Geosciences Union Spring Meetings in Vienna, and other AGU conferences. Two Brazilian geoscience professors, Celso Dal Ré Carneiro of State University of Campinas and Nisia Krusche of Federal University of Rio Grande, organized the program, together with a high-school teacher from the United States, Michael J. Passow of Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood, N. J. Joining the presenters were 15 Brazilian teachers and another teacher from New Jersey.

  13. [Trattamento farmacologico del disturbo da uso di alcol. Evidenze scientifiche].

    PubMed

    Attilia, Fabio; Perciballi, Roberta; Rotondo, Claudia; Capriglione, Ida; Iannuzzi, Silvia; Attilia, Maria Luisa; Vitali, Mario; Alessandrini, Giovanni; Scamporrino, Maria Concetta Marcella; Fiore, Marco; Ceccanti, Mauro

    2018-01-01

    RIASSUNTO. La terapia farmacologica nei pazienti con disturbo da uso di alcol riveste un ruolo centrale nel progetto terapeutico, altamente contestualizzato in un approccio multidisciplinare. Sebbene i trattamenti non farmacologici per la dipendenza da alcol risultino ben strutturati e in continua evoluzione, dal punto di vista medico le possibilità di intervento sono realmente ristrette, con poche molecole a disposizione approvate per il disturbo da uso di alcol: nello specifico, l'acamprostato, il naltrexone e, più recentemente, il nalmefene tra gli anticraving; il disulfiram tra gli avversivanti. Nuovi approcci sperimentali stanno cercando di ampliare tale gamma attraverso l'utilizzo di farmaci off-label. Evidenze scientifiche devono supportare l'indicazione terapeutica, quest'ultima deve dimostrarsi "cucita" sulle esigenze del paziente e sulle comorbilità presenti tenendo conto del profilo bio-psico-sociale individuale. Fondamentale risulta il follow-up per valutare la ritenzione in trattamento e il monitoraggio degli outcome alcologici.

  14. Effect of Microbial Interaction on Urea Metabolism in Chinese Liquor Fermentation.

    PubMed

    Wu, Qun; Lin, Jianchun; Cui, Kaixiang; Du, Rubin; Zhu, Yang; Xu, Yan

    2017-12-20

    Urea is the primary precursor of the carcinogen ethyl carbamate in fermented foods. Understanding urea metabolism is important for controlling ethyl carbamate production. Using Chinese liquor as a model system, we used metatranscriptome analysis to investigate urea metabolism in spontaneous food fermentation processes. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was dominant in gene transcription for urea biosynthesis and degradation. Lysinibacillus sphaericus was dominant for urea degradation. S. cerevisiae degraded 18% and L. sphaericus degraded 13% of urea in their corresponding single cultures, whereas they degraded 56% of urea in coculture after 12 h. Compared to single cultures, transcription of CAR1, DAL2, and argA, which are related to urea biosynthesis, decreased by 51, 36, and 69% in coculture, respectively. Transcription of DUR1 and ureA, which are related to urea degradation, increased by 227 and 70%, respectively. Thus, coexistence of the two strains promoted degradation of urea via transcriptional regulation of genes related to urea metabolism.

  15. Millisecond timing on PCs and Macs.

    PubMed

    MacInnes, W J; Taylor, T L

    2001-05-01

    A real-time, object-oriented solution for displaying stimuli on Windows 95/98, MacOS and Linux platforms is presented. The program, written in C++, utilizes a special-purpose window class (GLWindow), OpenGL, and 32-bit graphics acceleration; it avoids display timing uncertainty by substituting the new window class for the default window code for each system. We report the outcome of tests for real-time capability across PC and Mac platforms running a variety of operating systems. The test program, which can be used as a shell for programming real-time experiments and testing specific processors, is available at http://www.cs.dal.ca/~macinnwj. We propose to provide researchers with a sense of the usefulness of our program, highlight the ability of many multitasking environments to achieve real time, as well as caution users about systems that may not achieve real time, even under optimal conditions.

  16. IL TRAPIANTO ORTOTOPICO DEL FEGATO

    PubMed Central

    STARZL, THOMAS E.

    2010-01-01

    E’ormai noto che esiste la possibilità rivoluzionaria di utilizzare il fegato per il trattamento della stadio terminale delle epatopatie. Nel gennaio 1980 si celebra il decimo anna di sopravvivenza con fegato trapiantato (la più lunga della letteratura) di un paziente da noi trattato. Si tratta di uno dei 12 malati sottoposti a trapianto e seguiti per più di 5 anni. La nota positiva di questa tipo di trattamento è rappresentata dall’eccellente tenore di vita che i pazienti conducono e dalla riabilitazione sociale e professionale. La nota negativa è data, invece, dal fatto che i buoni risultati non vengono raggiunti con regolarità e non possono essere previsti con esattezza. In questa breve rassegna considereremo la esperienza da noi fatta presso l’Università di Denver nel Colorado, mettendo in risalto le cause dell’elevata mortalità precoce e le prospettive future di questa mezzo terapeutico. PMID:21572898

  17. Analysis of the convective timescale during the major floods in the NE Iberian Peninsula since 1871

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pino, David; Reynés, Artur; Mazon, Jordi; Carles Balasch, Josep; Lluis Ruiz-Bellet, Josep; Tuset, Jordi; Barriendos, Mariano; Castelltort, Xavier

    2016-04-01

    Floods are the most severe natural hazard in the western Mediterranean basin. They cause most of the damages and most of the victims. Some of the selected floods caused more than one hundred casualties each and a large quantity of damages in infrastructures. In a previous work (Balasch, et al., 2015), using the PREDIFLOOD database (Barriendos et al., 2014) we studied the atmospheric conditions that occurred during some of the most important floods occurred in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula in the last centuries: 1874, 1875, 1894, 1897, 1898, 1901, 1907, 1913, 1919, 1932, 1937, 1940, 1962, 1963, 1977, 1994, 1996, and 2000. We analyzed the atmospheric synoptic situations at the time of each flood from the data provided by NOAA 20th Century Reanalysis and we compared it to the rainfall spatial distributions obtained with the hydrological modeling. In this work we enlarge the previous investigation by analyzing the evolution of a convective index proposed by Done et al. (2006) and modified by Molini et al. (2011). This index, called convective time scale, is obtained from the evolution of CAPE and is used to separate equilibrium and non-equilibrium convection. In the former, CAPE generated by large-scale processes is balanced by the consumption due to convection. In the second case, CAPE is created by large-scale processes over a long time and is rapidly consumed during outbreaks of convection. Both situations produced a totally different evolution of CAPE with low and approximately constant values in the first case and large and variable values in the second. Additionally, from this index it can be estimated the rainfall rate. We use data provided by NOAA 20th Century Reanalysis, to calculate the convective time scale and to analyze its evolution and horizontal distribution. We study the correspondence between the convective timescale, the season when the flood occurred, duration of the rainfall, and the specific peak flow rate of the flood. Finally, for the most recent episodes rainfall rate estimation from the convective timescale is compared with the observations. Balasch, J. C., Ruiz-Bellet, J. L., Tuset, J., Barriendos, M., Mazón, J., Pino, D. and Castelltort, X.: Transdisciplinary and multiscale reconstruction of the major flash floods in NE Iberian Peninsula. EGU General Assembly, 2015. Barriendos, M., Ruiz--Bellet, J. L., Tuset, J., Mazon, J., Balasch, J. C., Pino, D., Ayala, J. L.: The "Prediflood" database of historical floods in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula) AD 1035--2013, and its potential applications in flood analysis, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 4807-4823, 2014. Done, J. M., Craig, G. C., Gray, S. L., Clark, P. A., and Gray, M. E. B.: Mesoscale simulations of organized convection: Importance of convective equilibrium, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 132, 737-756, 2006. Molini, L., Parodi, A., Rebora, N. and Craig, G. C.: Classifying severe rainfall events over Italy by hydrometeorological and dynamical criteria, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 137, 148-154, 2011.

  18. Historical flood data series of Eastern Spanish Coast (14th-20th centuries). Improving identification of climatic patterns and human factors of flood events from primary documentary sources

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alberola, Armando; Barriendos, Mariano; Gil-Guirado, Salvador; Pérez-Morales, Alfredo; Balasch, Carles; Castelltort, Xavier; Mazón, Jordi; Pino, David; Lluís Ruiz-Bellet, Josep; Tuset, Jordi

    2016-04-01

    Historical flood data series of Eastern Spanish Coast (14th-20th centuries). Improving identification of climatic patterns and human factors of flood events from primary documentary sources Armando Alberola, Barriendos, M., Gil-Guirado, S., Pérez Morales, A., Balasch, C., Castelltort, X., Mazón, J., Pino, D., Ruiz-Bellet, J.L., Tuset, J. Historical flood events in eastern spanish coast have been studied by different research groups and projects. Complexity of flood processes, involving atmospheric, surface and human factors, is not easily understandable when long time series are required. Present analysis from PREDIFLOOD Project Consortium defines a new step of flood event databases: Improved access to primary (documentary) and secondary (bibliographical) sources, data collection for all possible locations where floods are detected, and improved system of classification (Barriendos et al., 2014). A first analysis is applied to 8 selected flood series. Long chronologies from PREDIFLOOD Project for Catalonia region (Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida, Tortosa). In addition, to cover all sector of spanish mediterranean coast, we introduce Valencia city in Turia River basin. South Eastern sector is cover with Murcia and Caravaca cities, Segura River basin. Extension of area under study required contributions of research teams experienced in work of documentary primary sources (Alberola, 2006; Gil-Guirado, 2013). Flood frequency analysis for long scale periods show natural climatic oscillations into so-called Little Ice Age. There are general patterns, affecting most of basins, but also some local anomalies or singularities. To explain these differences and analogies it is not enough to use purely climatic factors. In this way, we analyze human factors that have been able to influence the variability of floods along last 6 centuries (demography, hydraulic infrastructures, urban development...). This approach improves strongly understanding of mechanisms producing major flood events on Eastern coast of Iberian Peninsula, with identification and evaluation of natural and human factors involved on that. References: Alberola, A. 2006. "Entre la sequía y la inundación. Una aproximación a las avenidas históricas de los ríos valencianos durante el siglo XVIII", in Gérard Chastagnaret and Antonio Gil Olcina (eds.), Riesgo de inundaciones en el Mediterráneo occidental, Casa de Velázquez-Universidad de Alicante, p. 1-30. ISBN 84-95555-89-1. Barriendos, M., Ruiz-Bellet, J.L., Tuset, J., Mazón, J., Balasch, C., Pino, D., Ayala, J.L.: 2014, "The 'Prediflood' database of historical floods in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula) AD 1035-2013, and its potential applications in flood analysis", Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 18: 1-17. DOI: 10.5194/hess-18-1-2014. Gil-Guirado, S.: 2013. Reconstrucción climática histórica y análisis evolutivo de la vulnerabilidad y adaptación a las sequías e inundaciones en la Cuenca del Segura (España) y en la Cuenca del Río Mendoza (Argentina). Doctoral dissertation. Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.

  19. The Baltic Basin Case Study—towards a sustainable Baltic Europe

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jansson, Bengt-Owe; Stålvant, Carl-Einar

    2001-12-01

    Four watersheds, each characterized by a major resource use were selected for the study: The Vistula River in Poland—agriculture; the Dalälven River in Sweden—forestry; the Archipelago Sea in Sweden, Finland, Estonia—tourism; and the Lake Peipsi in Estonia/Russia—fisheries/agriculture. The main objective was to examine the reactions of particular ecosystems within the Baltic Sea drainage area, and to assess sustainability conditions on the regional level. The degree of sustainability and impact on the Baltic Sea were investigated through workshops and seminars in the areas. Overviews of environmental and socio-economic conditions were succinctly summarized in commissioned papers. Interventions by and discussions with scholars, sector experts, administrators and stakeholders of the various sites laid the foundation for conceptualizing the interaction of natural and human forces for each case. The project was able to draw quite a number of conclusions, summarized as the following lessons learnt. In the Vistula Region, nutrient emissions have levelled off but shortage of freshwater is critical. Forestry in the Dalälven watershed is largely environmental-friendly, except for fragmentation of the landscape and its negative impact on biodiversity. In the Archipelago area a former low-energy community has been replaced by a leisure time society. Different types of tourism is developing, but despite this variety, an improved integration of ecological properties with socio-economic patterns is required in order to build a sustainable, living Archipelago. The lake Peipsi basin and the surrounding area suffer both from problems of resource management and economic backwardness. Parts of the local economy has lost access to the one time large Soviet market, although the Estonian side has apparently benefited from present economic growth. To cope with the division of the lake, a regime for trans-national management is unfolding. It is based on both informal and, to an increasing extent, agreed professional contacts. Networks of engaged people were in all sites a resource for and promoter of the sustainability path. In order to succeed and to maintain the zeal, they need strong institutional support and common goals. Public programmes in the Baltic, ie. the work of the Helsinki Commission and Baltic Agenda 21, have developed instruments to enhance sustainability beneficial for the management of these watersheds. But critical tasks remain to be done in developing a shared understanding of ways to improve management of ecosystems with social factors.

  20. Age and tectonic implications of some low-grade metamorphic rocks from the Yucatan Channel

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Vedder, J.G.; MacLeod, N.S.; Lanphere, M.A.; Dillon, William P.

    1973-01-01

    Phyllite and marble dredged from the lower part of the continental slope between Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula seem to support the contention that a pre-early Tertiary metamorphic belt extends from the western Greater Antilles into northern Central America. The minimum K-Ar ages derived from the samples suggest that the metamorphic event was pre-Late Cretaceous, and evaluation of the K-Ar data implies that this metamorphic event is not older than Late Jurassic. Greater antiquity, however, is inferred from structural and stratigraphic relations in British Honduras, where the latest regional metamorphic event was post-Early Permian and pre-Middle Jurassic.  Rifting and extension related to plate motions along the British Honduras Quintana Roo margin through Mesozoic and earliest Cenozoic time presumably would preclude extensive regional metamorphism, permitting only limited development of schistose rocks there during that interval. The timing of metamorphic events in western Cuba is uncertain, but a pre-Middle Jurassic episode possibly is reflected in the phyllite and marble terranes of Isla de Pinos and Sierra de Trinidad. Local incipient metamorphism of Early and Middle Jurassic strata in the Sierra de los Organos may have resulted from severe tectonism that began in Late Cretaceous time and diminished in the Eocene.

  1. Uranium Isotope Ratios in Modern and Precambrian Soils

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    DeCorte, B.; Planavsky, N.; Wang, X.; Auerbach, D. J.; Knudsen, A. C.

    2015-12-01

    Uranium isotopes (δ238U values) are an emerging paleoredox proxy that can help to better understand the redox evolution of Earth's surface environment. Recently, uranium isotopes have been used to reconstruct ocean and atmospheric redox conditions (Montoya-Pino et al., 2010; Brennecka et al., 2011; Kendall et al., 2013; Dahl et al., 2014). However, to date, there have not been studies on paleosols, despite that paleosols are, arguably better suited to directly tracking the redox conditions of the atmosphere. Sedimentary δ238U variability requires the formation of the soluble, oxidized form of U, U(VI). The formation of U(VI) is generally thought to require oxygen levels orders of magnitude higher than prebiotic levels. Without significant U mobility, it would have been impossible to develop isotopically distinct pools of uranium in ancient Earth environments. Conversely, an active U redox cycle leads to significant variability in δ238U values. Here we present a temporally and geographically expansive uranium isotope record from paleosols and modern soils to better constrain atmospheric oxygen levels during the Precambrian. Preliminary U isotope measurements of paleosols are unfractionated (relative to igneous rocks), possibly because of limited fractionation during oxidation (e.g., {Wang, 2015 #478}) or insufficient atmospheric oxygen levels to oxidize U(IV)-bearing minerals in the bedrock. Further U isotope measurements of paleosols with comparison to modern soils will resolve this issue.

  2. AFOSR Technical Report Summaries

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-01-01

    411 91i C 1 in A . - 2 Ko 49 0U UA -in in4 4. Iz ha -a h-04- OW-4- 1-40 4. KZ4 2 0 h*4c 4 =. U. a. N I Ow us ’u I.-JAA4II A-I m. ’A Z uU 001 C4Cz ha c...1. 7 a.~ ~~~ 4’ E .. omS U U *C I 4’K S 400 1. CIL 00 KO - 4a a ~ - r 00, 4’( U Il 70 w .L H - 1. up -W AM a 0 L e KUC 0 C MW W W XK 40 W t 1 W .; 0 a...80Z .. i CCL0I 0 .6 4L= 9 : 2 T o5m 0 .4 * .4 0w0.dU a.- Mi aLM-9 t4.ZhSL pq - dal 96 0I 1-(AN # U. -v4cg - u s * 2 *IZO SKO M.IW ONOSM .W~ .-C A

  3. Mechanical and electrical strain response of a piezoelectric auxetic PZT lattice structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fey, Tobias; Eichhorn, Franziska; Han, Guifang; Ebert, Kathrin; Wegener, Moritz; Roosen, Andreas; Kakimoto, Ken-ichi; Greil, Peter

    2016-01-01

    A two-dimensional auxetic lattice structure was fabricated from a PZT piezoceramic. Tape casted and sintered sheets with a thickness of 530 μm were laser cut into inverted honeycomb lattice structure with re-entrant cell geometry (θ = -25°) and poling direction oriented perpendicular to the lattice plane. The in-plane strain response upon applying an uniaxial compression load as well as an electric field perpendicular to the lattice plane were analyzed by a 2D image data detection analysis. The auxetic lattice structure exhibits orthotropic deformation behavior with a negative in-plane Poisson’s ratio of -2.05. Compared to PZT bulk material the piezoelectric auxetic lattice revealed a strain amplification by a factor of 30-70. Effective transversal coupling coefficients {{d}al}31 of the PZT lattice exceeding 4 × 103 pm V-1 were determined which result in an effective hydrostatic coefficient {{d}al}h 66 times larger than that of bulk PZT.

  4. Elettrodinamica classica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lechner, Kurt

    Nella scoperta della Relatività Ristretta l'Elettrodinamica, rappresentando una teoria relativistica per eccellenza, ha giocato un ruolo fondamentale. Il principio di relativit` a einsteiniana, che afferma che tutte le leggi della fisica devono avere la stessa forma in tutti i sistemi di riferimento inerziali, è emerso con forza da questa teoria ed è andato consolidandosi sempre di più, man mano che le nostre conoscenze del mondo microscopico sono diventate più complete: tutte le interazioni fondamentali rispettano infatti tale principio. Il modo più semplice ed elegante per implementarlo — difatti l'unico di un'utilità concreta — è rappresentato dal paradigma della covarianza a vista nell'ambito del calcolo tensoriale. Questo paradigma è stato applicato con successo a tutte le teorie di carattere fondamentale, come le teorie che descrivono le quattro interazioni fondamentali e le più speculative teorie di superstringa, e mantiene la sua piena efficacia anche in teoria quantistica. La nostra esposizione dell'Elettrodinamica classica si baserà dunque a ragione su questo paradigma.

  5. Challenging nickel-catalysed amine arylations enabled by tailored ancillary ligand design

    PubMed Central

    Lavoie, Christopher M.; MacQueen, Preston M.; Rotta-Loria, Nicolas L.; Sawatzky, Ryan S.; Borzenko, Andrey; Chisholm, Alicia J.; Hargreaves, Breanna K. V.; McDonald, Robert; Ferguson, Michael J.; Stradiotto, Mark

    2016-01-01

    Palladium-catalysed C(sp2)–N cross-coupling (that is, Buchwald–Hartwig amination) is employed widely in synthetic chemistry, including in the pharmaceutical industry, for the synthesis of (hetero)aniline derivatives. However, the cost and relative scarcity of palladium provides motivation for the development of alternative, more Earth-abundant catalysts for such transformations. Here we disclose an operationally simple and air-stable ligand/nickel(II) pre-catalyst that accommodates the broadest combination of C(sp2)–N coupling partners reported to date for any single nickel catalyst, without the need for a precious-metal co-catalyst. Key to the unprecedented performance of this pre-catalyst is the application of the new, sterically demanding yet electron-poor bisphosphine PAd-DalPhos. Featured are the first reports of nickel-catalysed room temperature reactions involving challenging primary alkylamine and ammonia reaction partners employing an unprecedented scope of electrophiles, including transformations involving sought-after (hetero)aryl mesylates for which no capable catalyst system is known. PMID:27004442

  6. Analysis of Parent, Teacher, and Consultant Speech Exchanges and Educational Outcomes of Students With Autism During COMPASS Consultation.

    PubMed

    Ruble, Lisa; Birdwhistell, Jessie; Toland, Michael D; McGrew, John H

    2011-01-01

    The significant increase in the numbers of students with autism combined with the need for better trained teachers (National Research Council, 2001) call for research on the effectiveness of alternative methods, such as consultation, that have the potential to improve service delivery. Data from 2 randomized controlled single-blind trials indicate that an autism-specific consultation planning framework known as the collaborative model for promoting competence and success (COMPASS) is effective in increasing child Individual Education Programs (IEP) outcomes (Ruble, Dal-rymple, & McGrew, 2010; Ruble, McGrew, & Toland, 2011). In this study, we describe the verbal interactions, defined as speech acts and speech act exchanges that take place during COMPASS consultation, and examine the associations between speech exchanges and child outcomes. We applied the Psychosocial Processes Coding Scheme (Leaper, 1991) to code speech acts. Speech act exchanges were overwhelmingly affiliative, failed to show statistically significant relationships with child IEP outcomes and teacher adherence, but did correlate positively with IEP quality.

  7. Analysis of Parent, Teacher, and Consultant Speech Exchanges and Educational Outcomes of Students With Autism During COMPASS Consultation

    PubMed Central

    RUBLE, LISA; BIRDWHISTELL, JESSIE; TOLAND, MICHAEL D.; MCGREW, JOHN H.

    2011-01-01

    The significant increase in the numbers of students with autism combined with the need for better trained teachers (National Research Council, 2001) call for research on the effectiveness of alternative methods, such as consultation, that have the potential to improve service delivery. Data from 2 randomized controlled single-blind trials indicate that an autism-specific consultation planning framework known as the collaborative model for promoting competence and success (COMPASS) is effective in increasing child Individual Education Programs (IEP) outcomes (Ruble, Dal-rymple, & McGrew, 2010; Ruble, McGrew, & Toland, 2011). In this study, we describe the verbal interactions, defined as speech acts and speech act exchanges that take place during COMPASS consultation, and examine the associations between speech exchanges and child outcomes. We applied the Psychosocial Processes Coding Scheme (Leaper, 1991) to code speech acts. Speech act exchanges were overwhelmingly affiliative, failed to show statistically significant relationships with child IEP outcomes and teacher adherence, but did correlate positively with IEP quality. PMID:22639523

  8. Using a commercial CAD system for simultaneous input to theoretical aerodynamic programs and wind-tunnel model construction

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Enomoto, F.; Keller, P.

    1984-01-01

    The Computer Aided Design (CAD) system's common geometry database was used to generate input for theoretical programs and numerically controlled (NC) tool paths for wind tunnel part fabrication. This eliminates the duplication of work in generating separate geometry databases for each type of analysis. Another advantage is that it reduces the uncertainty due to geometric differences when comparing theoretical aerodynamic data with wind tunnel data. The system was adapted to aerodynamic research by developing programs written in Design Analysis Language (DAL). These programs reduced the amount of time required to construct complex geometries and to generate input for theoretical programs. Certain shortcomings of the Design, Drafting, and Manufacturing (DDM) software limited the effectiveness of these programs and some of the Calma NC software. The complexity of aircraft configurations suggests that more types of surface and curve geometry should be added to the system. Some of these shortcomings may be eliminated as improved versions of DDM are made available.

  9. An incoherent feedforward loop facilitates adaptive tuning of gene expression.

    PubMed

    Hong, Jungeui; Brandt, Nathan; Abdul-Rahman, Farah; Yang, Ally; Hughes, Tim; Gresham, David

    2018-04-05

    We studied adaptive evolution of gene expression using long-term experimental evolution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in ammonium-limited chemostats. We found repeated selection for non-synonymous variation in the DNA binding domain of the transcriptional activator, GAT1, which functions with the repressor, DAL80 in an incoherent type-1 feedforward loop (I1-FFL) to control expression of the high affinity ammonium transporter gene, MEP2. Missense mutations in the DNA binding domain of GAT1 reduce its binding to the GATAA consensus sequence. However, we show experimentally, and using mathematical modeling, that decreases in GAT1 binding result in increased expression of MEP2 as a consequence of properties of I1-FFLs. Our results show that I1-FFLs, one of the most commonly occurring network motifs in transcriptional networks, can facilitate adaptive tuning of gene expression through modulation of transcription factor binding affinities. Our findings highlight the importance of gene regulatory architectures in the evolution of gene expression. © 2018, Hong et al.

  10. Enhanced cellulase producing mutants developed from heterokaryotic Aspergillus strain.

    PubMed

    Kaur, Baljit; Oberoi, H S; Chadha, B S

    2014-03-01

    A heterokaryon 28, derived through protoplast fusion between Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus tubingensis (Dal8), was subjected cyclic mutagenesis followed by selection on increasing levels of 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG) as selection marker. The derived deregulated cellulase hyper producing mutant '64', when compared to fusant 28, produced 9.83, 7.8, 3.2, 4.2 and 19.74 folds higher endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, FPase and xylanase, respectively, under shake cultures. The sequence analysis of PCR amplified β-glucosidase gene from wild and mutant showed nucleotide deletion/substitution. The mutants showed highly catalytic efficient β-glucosidase as evident from low Km and high Vmax values. The expression profiling through zymogram analysis also indicated towards over-expression of cellulases. The up/down regulated expressed proteins observed through SDS-PAGE were identified by Peptide mass fingerprinting The cellulase produced by mutants in conjunction with cellulase free xylanase derived from Thermomyces lanuginosus was used for efficient utilization of alkali treated rice straw for obtaining xylo-oligosaccharides and ethanol. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. New Particle Formation Events During 2013 in Hada Al Sham, Saudi-Arabia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Neitola, K.; Hyvärinen, A.; Lihavainen, H.; Alghamdi, M.; Hussein, T.; Khodeir, M.; Shehata, A.; Laaksonen, A. J.; Kulmala, M. T.

    2014-12-01

    New particle formation (NPF) is the dominant source of aerosol particles in the atmosphere and plays an important role in the global climate (Kulmala et al., 2013). NPF events has been observed in various places around the world (Kulmala et al., 2007). Arabian Peninsula has one of the highest aerosol burdens due to dust storms, local petroleum industry, traffic and advection from southern Asia. Here we present results of new particle formation event analysis from the first full year of measurements in the new measurement station in Hada Al Sham, Saudi-Arabia. The background station in Hada Al Sham (21.802° North, 39.729° East, 254 m a.s.l.) was founded at the end of 2012 on an agricultural test field 60 km to southeast from the city of Jeddah. The terrain around the station is arid desert with very scarce yearly precipitation. There are no local pollution sources. Main instrumentation include: PM2.5 and PM10, number size distribution (7 nm - 10 μm) and total concentration, absorption and scattering coefficients, and the basic weather parameters. We analysed the twin DMPS data from year 2013 classifying new particle formation events by visual day-to-day method. The days were classified following the principal presented in Dal Maso et al., (2005). The data coverage was 264 days (72.3 %) of the year. 210 Days (79.5 %) were classified as NPF event (Class I and II) days, 37 days (14.0 %) as undefined and 17 days (6.4 %) as non-event days. The analysis of the NPF event days was considered again as the freshly formed particles was observed shrinking after the original growth in most of the NPF event days. Typical event day DMPS data with a shrinking mode of particles is presented in Fig.1. Some of the days involved simultaneous shrinking and growth of the particles. Table 1 summarizes the frequency of each type of event day. Events G S G + S unclear 210 25 102 33 50 Days 100 11.9 48.6 15.7 23.8 (%) Table 1. Reclassification of the event days (classes I and II). G is clear growth, S is clear shrinkage, G + S is both growth and shrinkage and unclear is not clear in either way.ReferencesM. Dal Maso, et al. (2005). Bor. Env. Res., 10, 323-336.M. Kulmala, et al. (2006). Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6, 787-793. M. Kulmala, et al. (2013). Science, 336, 943-946.

  12. Aspetti deontologici e giuridici della Responsabilità professionale del chirurgo in Italia. Evoluzione storica a partire dal '900.

    PubMed

    Picardi, Nicola

    2018-01-01

    È pleonastico ricordare che ogni individuo raziocinante delle essere responsabile delle sue azioni: deve agire con la coscienza degli scopi che si propone evitando possibili conseguenze negative dei suoi atti. In ambito medico questo tipo di responsabilità è codificata con le norme della "deontologia". Per secoli l'arte terapeutica è stata praticata da individui dotati di una particolare vocazione ed una particolare cultura acquisita da Maestri dell'arte ancor prima che dalla propria esperienza, con nozioni di erboristeria e di elementari conoscenze anatomiche e di fisiologia, circondati da un'aura sacerdotale e da un rispetto derivante dal timore e dall'ammirazione per il coraggio e auspicabilmente dai successi, e facendo riferimento nell'occidente mediterraneo alle regole operative fissate nel Giuramento di Ippocrate, di significato tra il sacro ed il deontologico. Lo sviluppo delle tecniche anestesiologiche a partire dalla seconda metà dell'800 ha determinato l'ampliamento delle iniziative chirurgiche di tipo elettivo, a fianco con gli storici interventi in emergenza per la cura di lesioni traumatiche, ancor prima delle acquisizioni riguardanti le infezioni. Con l'espansione del campo di azione della chirurgia, le possibili complicanze ed i possibili insuccessi hanno fatto da contrappeso ai sentimenti di rispetto e di fiducia nei confronti dei chirurghi, giungendo a far assimilare in tali casi la loro opera quale causa all'origine di danni, provocati rientrando quindi nella categoria dei reati sottoposti alla Legge penale. Così, al termine deontologico di "responsabilità" valido per ogni iniziativa ed ogni professione, per i medici è venuto ad associarsi la qualifica di "professionale", con un significato di presunta colpevolezza. Da una parte le regole deontologiche si sono ampliate, ed hanno coinvolto direttamente il paziente nella fase decisionale delle terapie chirurgiche, formalizzate programmaticamente in moderni codici deontologici ed operativamente nel documento del "consenso informato". Per altro verso le leggi innovative del Codice Civile definito nel 1942, che al posto delle pene del codice penale introduceva il criterio della risarcibilità economica del danno in caso di riconosciuta "responsabilità professionale", ha determinato il coinvolgimento di altre figura professionali, e cioè di avvocati e di medici legali, oltre che delle organizzazioni assicurative, con detrimento alla serenità nell'espletamento delle professioni sanitarie e con l'insorgenza per reazione della cosidetta "medicina difensiva". La concretezza di queste problematiche hanno richiesto l'interessamento attivo della Giurisprudenza con una serie di sentenze, ed una formulazione di decreti e nuove leggi parlamentari, ancora in pieno assestamento nel corso del 2017, lasciano in qualche modo ancora irrisolti alcuni nodi.

  13. 3D model of Campo de Dalías basement from H/V spectral ratio of ambient seismic noise

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    García-Jerez, Antonio; Seivane, Helena; Luzón, Francisco; Navarro, Manuel; Molina, Luis; Aranda, Carolina; Piña-Flores, José; Navarro, Francisco; Sánchez-Martos, Francisco; Vidal, Francisco; Posadas, Antonio M.; Sánchez-Sesma, Francisco J.

    2017-04-01

    Campo de Dalías is a large coastal plain in the southeastern mountain front of the Betic Cordillera (SE of the Iberian Peninsula), being one of the most seismically active regions of Spain. This area has a population of about 213.000 inhabitants, with a high growth rate during the last decades due to the development of intensive agricultural activities. Seismic risk assessment and hydrogeological issues are major topics of interest for this area, relaying on the knowledge of the geophysical properties of the basin. A passive seismic survey has been conducted throughout the basin. We have recorded ambient noise at 340 sites located approximately on the vertexes of a 1000 x 1000 m square grid, as well as around a set of deep boreholes reaching the Triassic basement. These broad-band records, of at least 45 minutes long each, have been analyzed by using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio method (H/V). The spectral analysis shows clear H/V peaks with periods ranging from 0.3 s to 4 s, approximately, associated to relevant contrasts in S-wave velocity (Vs) at depth. Simulations based on the diffuse field approach (Sánchez-Sesma et al. 2011) show that long periods are explained by the effect of several hundred meters of soft sedimentary rocks (mainly Miocene marls). Well-developed high-frequency secondary peaks have been found in some specific zones (e.g. N of Roquetas de Mar town). Then, fundamental frequencies and basement depths at borehole sites have been fitted by means of a power law, which can be applied down to 900 - 970m. Larger depths are estimated by extrapolation. This relationship has been used to map the basement (main Vs contrast) throughout the plain. The prospected basement model describes well the main structural features of this smoothly folded region, namely, the El Ejido Synform and the Guardias Viejas Antiform, with ENE-WSW-trend. These features are shifted toward the south in comparison with Pedrera et al. (2015). The homogeneous resolution provides new insights which cannot be reached from analysis of deep boreholes, due to their very irregular distribution and it complements 2D Vp models derived from seismic reflection surveys. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under grant CGL2014-59908 and by the European Union with ERDF funds.

  14. Oral pathology patterns in late farmers of the Central Andes: A comparative perspective between coastal and highland populations.

    PubMed

    Pezo-Lanfranco, Luis; Peralta, Arturo; Guillén, Sonia; Eggers, Sabine

    2017-10-01

    Aiming at future comparisons with earlier hunter-gatherers or transitional populations, this paper intends to characterize and describe the oral pathology pattern of late agriculturalists from Central Andes dating to the Late Intermediate Period (LIP) and Inca periods (1000-1532 CE), and identify differences and/or similarities between coastal and highland populations. Although the botanical inventories of the LIP suggest carbohydrate-rich diets and similar components, it has been hypothesized that coastal and highland populations had, nevertheless, substantially different oral pathology patterns. We evaluated 14 indicators of oral pathology from Los Pinos (n=200) and Armatambo (n=25) sites in the Central Coast and two chronological phases from Laguna de los Cóndores site (LC-Inca, n=23; and LC-LIP, n=55), in the Peruvian northern highlands. The results showed a recurrent pattern of oral pathologies characterized by cervical caries (above 30%), extra-occlusal caries (above 60%), high rates of gross-gross caries, high frequency of ante mortem tooth loss, and signals of periodontal disease among these four populations. The diets of the coast were slightly more abrasive than those of the highlands. Oral pathology patterns were compatible with a slightly more cariogenic diet in the coast than in the highlands. In all four populations, those patterns were modulated by other common factors such as consumption of fermented drinks (maize beer - chicha) and the coca leaf chewing habit. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  15. Predicting ICME properties at 1AU

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lago, A.; Braga, C. R.; Mesquita, A. L.; De Mendonça, R. R. S.

    2017-12-01

    Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are among the main origins of geomagnetic disturbances. They change the properties of the near-earth interplanetary medium, enhancing some key parameters, such as the southward interplanetary magnetic field and the solar wind speed. Both quantities are known to be related to the energy transfer from the solar wind to the Earth's magnetosphere via the magnetic reconnection process. Many attempts have been made to predict the magnetic filed and the solar wind speed from coronagraph observations. However, we still have much to learn about the dynamic evolution of ICMEs as they propagate through the interplanetary space. Increased observation capability is probably needed. Among the several attempts to establish correlations between CME and ICME properties, it was found that the average CME propagation speed to 1AU is highly correlated to the ICME peak speed (Dal Lago et al, 2004). In this work, we present an extended study of such correlation, which confirms the results found in our previous study. Some suggestions on how to use this kind of results for space weather estimates are explored.

  16. Pertinent parameters in photo-generation of electrons: Comparative study of anatase-based nano-TiO2 suspensions.

    PubMed

    Martel, D; Guerra, A; Turek, P; Weiss, J; Vileno, B

    2016-04-01

    In the field of solar fuel cells, the development of efficient photo-converting semiconductors remains a major challenge. A rational analysis of experimental photocatalytic results obtained with material in colloïdal suspensions is needed to access fundamental knowledge required to improve the design and properties of new materials. In this study, a simple system electron donor/nano-TiO2 is considered and examined via spin scavenging electron paramagnetic resonance as well as a panel of analytical techniques (composition, optical spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering) for selected type of nano-TiO2. Independent variables (pH, electron donor concentration and TiO2 amount) have been varied and interdependent variables (aggregate size, aggregate surface vs. volume and acid/base groups distribution) are discussed. This work shows that reliable understanding involves thoughtful combination of interdependent parameters, whereas the specific surface area seems not a pertinent parameter. The conclusion emphasizes the difficulty to identify the key features of the mechanisms governing photocatalytic properties in nano-TiO2. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. [La diagnosi del disturbo da uso di alcol dal punto di vista psicologico].

    PubMed

    Coriale, Giovanna; Fiorentino, Daniela; Porrari, Raffaella; Battagliese, Gemma; Capriglione, Ida; Cereatti, Federica; Iannuzzi, Silvia; Mauri, Benilde; Galli, Domenica; Fiore, Marco; Attilia, Maria Luisa; Ceccanti, Mauro

    2018-01-01

    RIASSUNTO. Il disturbo da uso di alcol (DUA) è uno dei disturbi psichiatrici più comuni nella popolazione generale. Il DUA è caratterizzato da un pattern di bere eccessivo, che si mantiene nonostante gli effetti negativi che l'alcol ha sul funzionamento lavorativo, sulla salute, sulle problematiche legali, sull'educazione e sulla vita sociale. Attualmente, il modello bio-psico-sociale è quello che spiega meglio il DUA. Infatti, molte ricerche hanno fornito evidenze su come il DUA sia una patologia multidimensionale. Variabili biologiche, psicologiche e socio-culturali entrano in gioco nell'eziologia, nella natura, nel mantenimento e nel cambiamento nel tempo del disturbo. La fase diagnostica è un momento importante del processo di cura, perché il successo del trattamento dipende in larga misura dall'esattezza e dall'adeguatezza della diagnosi. La diagnosi clinica si basa su una valutazione globale del funzionamento del paziente e utilizza il colloquio e gli strumenti psicometrici come mezzo di raccolta di informazioni. Questo articolo fornirà una panoramica delle dimensioni psicologiche più importanti da valutare e sui migliori strumenti psicometrici da usare per una diagnosi adeguata.

  18. Photometric study and absolute parameters of the short-period eclipsing binary HH Bootis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gürol, B.; Bradstreet, D. H.; Demircan, Y.; Gürsoytrak, S. H.

    2015-11-01

    We present the results of our investigation on the geometrical and physical parameters of the W UMa type binary system HH Bootis from new CCD (BVRI) light curves and published radial velocity data. The photometric data were obtained in 2011 and 2012 at Ankara University Observatory (AUO). Light and radial velocity observations were analyzed simultaneously using the Wilson-Devinney (2013 revision) code to obtain absolute and geometrical parameters. The system was determined to be a W-type W UMa system of a type different from that suggested by Dal and Sipahi (2013). An interesting cyclic period variation in the time intervals between primary and secondary eclipses ("half-period variation") was discovered and analyzed and its possible cause is discussed. Combining our photometric solution with the spectroscopic data we derived masses and radii of the eclipsing system to be M1 = 0.627M⊙ , M2 = 1.068M⊙ , R1 = 0.782R⊙ and R2 = 0.997R⊙ . New light elements were derived and finally the evolutionary status of the system is discussed.

  19. Thomas Linacre at the University of Padua.

    PubMed

    Porzionato, Andrea; Macchi, Veronica; De Caro, Raffaele

    2010-11-01

    The Bo (meaning 'ox' in the Venetian dialect) is the historic seat of the University of Padua, founded in 1222. A full-length portrait of Thomas Linacre stands in its prestigious Sala dei Quaranta (Hall of the Forty), so called because of the portraits of forty great foreign scholars of the University, painted by Giacomo dal Forno in 1942. Thomas Linacre came to Italy in 1485, following an embassy by Henry VII to the Vatican. Linacre visited Bologna, Florence, Rome, Venice, Vicenza and Padua, where he took his degree in medicine in 1496 with great distinction. During his stay in Italy he met illustrious humanists and physicians, including Poliziano, Hermolaus Barbarus and Aldus Manutius Romanus, and Nicolaus Leonicenus who further stimulated him to the translation of classic works by Hippocrates and Galen. In 1518 Linacre played a pivotal role in the foundation of the Royal College of Physicians in London which, as first President, he organized on the basis of Italian models. With his portrait, the University of Padua celebrates the life and work of an astonishing figure linking the Italian and English medical cultures.

  20. [Quebec Pregnancy Cohort: prevalence of medication use during gestation and pregnancy outcomes].

    PubMed

    Bérard, Anick; Sheehy, Odile

    2014-01-01

    Many women are exposed to medications during pregnancy. The Quebec Pregnancy Cohort (QPC) is a prospective population-based cohort which includes all data on pregnancies and children between January 1997 and December 2008. We linked four administrative databases in Quebec, Canada: RAMQ (medical and pharmaceutical), MED-ECHO (hospitalizations), ISQ (births/deaths), and MELS (Ministry of Education). Pregnancies included were covered by the Quebec prescription drug insurance plan (36% of women aged 15-45 years) from 12 months prior until the end of pregnancy. We analyzed 97,680 pregnancies. Prevalence of medication use was 74% pre-pregnancy, 56% during pregnancy, and 80% post-pregnancy. Most frequently used medications during pregnancy were antibiotics (47%), antiemetic drugs (23%), and non-steroïdal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [17%]. Medication users were more likely to have spontaneous abortions, preterm births, children with congenital malformations and postpartum depression than non-users (p<0.01). Medications are commonly used during pregnancy. The QPC is a powerful tool for perinatal pharmacoepidemiological research. © 2014 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

  1. Broadcasts of wing-fanning vibrations recorded from calling male Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) increase captures of females in traps.

    PubMed

    Mankin, R W; Anderson, J B; Mizrach, A; Epsky, N D; Shuman, D; Heath, R R; Mazor, M; Hetzroni, A; Grinshpun, J; Taylor, P W; Garrett, S L

    2004-08-01

    Female Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), from the sterile-male rearing facility in El Pino, Guatemala, were exposed to broadcasts of wing-fanning vibrations recorded from males engaged in calling behavior to investigate the feasibility of developing a female-selective acoustic trap. The recorded signals had frequent amplitude fluctuations and peak frequencies approximately 350 Hz, typical of signals observed in previous studies of Mediterranean fruit fly acoustic behavior. Females did not exhibit long-distance phonotaxis, but remained near a speaker significantly longer when the sounds were broadcast at 103-107 dB than when the speaker was silent. In addition, significantly higher percentages of females were captured by yellow adhesive traps next to a broadcasting speaker than by traps next to a silent mimic. Additional bioassays were conducted with synthetic, 350-Hz tones produced by a thermoacoustic tube as well as with silent mimics of the different sound sources to examine the relative responsiveness of female Mediterranean fruit flies to traps with different acoustic and visual features. The visual attributes of the different sound source assemblies significantly affected capture rates. The range over which the broadcast significantly increased the percentage of female captures was <0.5 m, which may limit the utility of these acoustic cues in large-scale trapping programs. However, the findings of this study do justify further testing of whether optimized short-range acoustic signals could be used to augment longer range pheromonal and visual cues to improve the efficacy of female-selective traps.

  2. Experimental characterization of wingtip vortices in the near field using smoke flow visualizations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Serrano-Aguilera, J. J.; García-Ortiz, J. Hermenegildo; Gallardo-Claros, A.; Parras, L.; del Pino, C.

    2016-08-01

    In order to predict the axial development of the wingtip vortices strength, an accurate theoretical model is required. Several experimental techniques have been used to that end, e.g. PIV or hot-wire anemometry, but they imply a significant cost and effort. For this reason, we have performed experiments using the smoke-wire technique to visualize smoke streaks in six planes perpendicular to the main stream flow direction. Using this visualization technique, we obtained quantitative information regarding the vortex velocity field by means of Batchelor's model for two chord-based Reynolds numbers, Re_c=3.33× 10^4 and 10^5. Therefore, this theoretical vortex model has been introduced in the integration of ordinary differential equations which describe the temporal evolution of streak lines as function of two parameters: the swirl number, S, and the virtual axial origin, overline{z_0}. We have applied two different procedures to minimize the distance between experimental and theoretical flow patterns: individual curve fitting at six different control planes in the streamwise direction and the global curve fitting which corresponds to all the control planes simultaneously. Both sets of results have been compared with those provided by del Pino et al. (Phys Fluids 23(013):602, 2011b. doi: 10.1063/1.3537791), finding good agreement. Finally, we have observed a weak influence of the Reynolds number on the values S and overline{z_0} at low-to-moderate Re_c. This experimental technique is proposed as a low cost alternative to characterize wingtip vortices based on flow visualizations.

  3. [Guillain-Barré syndrome in the northern area of Gran Canaria and the island of Lanzarote].

    PubMed

    Aladro-Benito, Y; Conde-Sendin, M A; Muñoz-Fernández, C; Pérez-Correa, S; Alemany-Rodríguez, M J; Fiuza-Pérez, M D; Alamo-Santana, F

    The objective of this study is to analyse the incidence and clinical characteristics of Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) in the Canary Islands. We conducted a retrospective study of GBS patients (according to diagnostic criteria from the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke) treated in the Ntra. Sra. del Pino Hospital in Gran Canaria between 1983 and 1998. Annual incidence, seasonal distribution, preceding infection, clinical and electrophysiological data, and evolution were all evaluated. Prognostic factors were studied by means of a univariate analysis. A total of 81 patients were selected for the study. The raw incidence was 1.04/100,000 inhab./year (CI 95%: 0.83 1.29; adjusted for age to the European population: 1.5). The rates of incidence were higher in men and increased lineally with age in both sexes. We observed an upward tendency during the winter months. 48% of the patients displayed serious motor deficits in the nadir of the disease, and 17.8% required assisted ventilation. After one year s evolution 74% were seen to experience an excellent recovery. The mortality rate was 8.2% and 37% received immunomodulatory treatment. The main variables associated with a bad prognosis at 3 and 12 months were: serious deficits in muscular balance, the need for assisted ventilation and very reduced amplitude of evoked motor potential. GBS incidence in the Canary Islands is similar to that found in other countries. An increase with age and an upward tendency during the winter months was observed. No differences were found in the clinical data as compared with other series.

  4. Influence of surface roughness on the oxidation behavior of a Ni-4.0Cr-5.7Al single crystal superalloy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pei, Haiqing; Wen, Zhixun; Li, Zhenwei; Zhang, Yamin; Yue, Zhufeng

    2018-05-01

    The high-temperature oxidation dynamics and mechanisms of a Ni-based single crystal superalloy with four kinds of surface roughnesses were investigated by virtue of XRD, OM, SEM and EDS at 1000 °C. In the initial oxidation stage, outer (Ni, Co)O was mainly produced on the surfaces of the samples with Ra = 90 nm and 19 nm. Correspondingly, outer Cr2O3 and transient θ-Al2O3 were mainly formed on the surfaces with Ra = 509 nm and 182 nm. After 180 min oxidation, the values of instantaneous parabolic mass gain coefficients (kp) of the samples with all surface roughnesses were gradually consistent with the data of the growth parabolic coefficient of α-Al2O3. The oxidation mechanisms of Ni-based superalloy with different surface roughnesses were discussed by a model. The external diffusion flux of Al (DAl) increases with the increases of surface roughness. Thus, the required Al concentration decreases with the increases of surface roughness when the selective oxidation of Al occurrs to form a protective single α-Al2O3 film.

  5. Lo Gnomone Clementino Astronomia Meridiana in Basilica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sigismondi, Costantino

    2014-05-01

    Costruito per chiara volontà del papa 70 anni dopo il caso Galileo, lo Gnomone Clementino è un grande telescopio solare che non fa uso di lenti a 92 anni dall’invenzione del cannocchiale. Queste due caratteristiche basterebbero da sole a giustificare l’interesse verso questo strumento. L’astronomia meridiana è alla base dell’astrometria e dell’astrofisica moderna. Lo Gnomone Clementino sta oggi all’astronomia, come il veliero “Amerigo Vespucci” sta alla Marina Italiana. E’ possibile svolgere ogni genere di osservazione e studio su questo strumento, e dal 2002 vi tengo lezioni teorico-pratiche del corso di Storia dell’Astronomia e La Terra nel Sistema Solare della Sapienza, Università di Roma, Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia. Questo testo aggiunge alcuni tasselli alla ricerca storica sulla meridiana, appoggiandosi, com’è naturale, sulle spalle di giganti che mi hanno preceduto in questi studi. In particolare la misura dell’azimut della meridiana, ed il suo inquadramento tra gli strumenti simili ed alcuni studi di astrometria sui dati del 1701-1703 di Bianchini, che sono apparsi fin’ora soltanto su riviste specializzate ed in Inglese vengono qui proposti in Italiano e semplificati, per valorizzare sempre più questa straordinaria opera d’arte e di scienza.

  6. A dipeptide transporter from the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis is upregulated in the intraradical phase.

    PubMed

    Belmondo, Simone; Fiorilli, Valentina; Pérez-Tienda, Jacob; Ferrol, Nuria; Marmeisse, Roland; Lanfranco, Luisa

    2014-01-01

    Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form an ancient and widespread mutualistic symbiosis with plants, are a crucial but still enigmatic component of the plant micro biome. Nutrient exchange has probably been at the heart of the success of this plant-fungus interaction since the earliest days of plants on land. To characterize genes from the fungal partner involved in nutrient exchange, and presumably important for the functioning of the AM symbiosis, genome-wide transcriptomic data obtained from the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis were exploited. A gene sequence, showing amino acid sequence and transmembrane domains profile similar to members of the PTR2 family of fungal oligopeptide transporters, was identified and called RiPTR2. The functional properties of RiPTR2 were investigated by means of heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in either one or both of its di/tripeptide transporter genes PTR2 and DAL5. These assays showed that RiPTR2 can transport dipeptides such as Ala-Leu, Ala-Tyr or Tyr-Ala. From the gene expression analyses it seems that RiPTR2 responds to different environmental clues when the fungus grows inside the root and in the extraradical phase.

  7. Evaluation of cleaning and disinfection performance of automatic washer disinfectors machines in programs presenting different cycle times and temperatures.

    PubMed

    Bergo, Maria do Carmo Noronha Cominato

    2006-01-01

    Thermal washer-disinfectors represent a technology that brought about great advantages such as, establishment of protocols, standard operating procedures, reduction in occupational risk of a biological and environmental nature. The efficacy of the cleaning and disinfection obtained by automatic washer disinfectors machines in running programs with different times and temperatures determined by the different official agencies was validated according to recommendations from ISO Standards 15883-1/1999 and HTM2030 (NHS Estates, 1997) for the determining of the Minimum Lethality and DAL both theoretically and through the use with thermocouples. In order to determine the cleaning efficacy, the Soil Test, Biotrace Pro-tect and the Protein Test Kit were used. The procedure to verify the CFU count of viable microorganisms was performed before and after the thermal disinfection. This article shows that the results are in compliance with the ISO and HTM Standards. The validation steps confirmed the high efficacy level of the Medical Washer-Disinfectors. This protocol enabled the evaluation of the procedure based on evidence supported by scientific research, aiming at the support of the Supply Center multi-professional personnel with information and the possibility of developing further research.

  8. [Euclid and Pythagorus in the 21st century. A proposal on various harmonious craniofacial and occlusal constants].

    PubMed

    Blocquel, H

    2001-01-01

    The aim of this work was to study the architectural relationships between different squeletal and dental pieces participating in the mastication, and to prove their fixity. We have at our disposition a collection of teleradiographies taken from profile on the same subject, over the course of several years; 3000 of them have been selected. With the help of tracings, where are drawn 36 degrees angles; or 72 degrees and 108 degrees; we systematize our locations. Together with our ten experimenters, we have noticed the existence of a parallelism between the graphic representations of the Bouvet occlusal plane, the sphenoïdal planum (sphenoïdale bone) and the course of the second trigeminal branch (trigeminus nerve) in its infra-orbital section. The angle of those different marks with the superior clivus (quadrilateral strip of the sphenoïd) (dorsum sellae) still measures 72 degrees. It is equal to 108 degrees with the graphic representation of the third antero-inferior pterygoïd process. (pterygoïdeus process). The angle between the superior clivus and the pterygoïd process still measures 36 degrees. These works are new contributions to the orthodontic, occlusodontic or prosthetic conceptions.

  9. Pediatric advanced life support and sedation of pediatric dental patients.

    PubMed

    Kim, Jongbin

    2016-03-01

    Programs provided by the Korea Association of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation include Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Korean Advanced Life Support (KALS). However, programs pertinent to dental care are lacking. Since 2015, related organizations have been attempting to develop a Dental Advanced Life Support (DALS) program, which can meet the needs of the dental environment. Generally, for initial management of emergency situations, basic life support is most important. However, emergencies in young children mostly involve breathing. Therefore, physicians who treat pediatric dental patients should learn PALS. It is necessary for the physician to regularly renew training every two years to be able to immediately implement professional skills in emergency situations. In order to manage emergency situations in the pediatric dental clinic, respiratory support is most important. Therefore, mastering professional PALS, which includes respiratory care and core cases, particularly upper airway obstruction and respiratory depression caused by a respiratory control problem, would be highly desirable for a physician who treats pediatric dental patients. Regular training and renewal training every two years is absolutely necessary to be able to immediately implement professional skills in emergency situations.

  10. Ethnobotanical Study of Herbaceous Flora along an Altitudinal Gradient in Bharmour Forest Division, District Chamba of Himachal Pradesh, India.

    PubMed

    Thakur, Kehar S; Kumar, Munesh; Bawa, Rajan; Bussmann, Rainer W

    2014-01-01

    The present ethnobotanical study was carried out in Holi (Deol, Kut, Dal, and Lahaud Dhar) forest range and in Bharmor (Seri, Bharmour, Malkauta, Bharmani, Harsar, Dhancho, Sundrasi, Gorikund, and Manimahesh) forest range to obtain information on the plants used by the local inhabitants for several purposes. A total of 54 plants were recorded in this study. The plants are employed to treat simple diseases (cough, cold, fever, and burns) and some serious diseases (typhoid, jaundice, and kidney disease). Some of the plants are also used as incense for religious ceremonies and several other daily needs. But due to absence of scientific monitoring of plants, their cultivation, harvesting, and management techniques as well as sustainable use and lack of awareness of social factors, the availability of valuable plant resources is decreasing at an alarming rate. In addition, the indigenous knowledge regarding the use of lesser-known plants of this region is also rapidly declining. Therefore, the documentation of plant resources is a necessary step towards the goal of raising awareness in local communities about the importance of these plants and their further conservation.

  11. Ethnobotanical Study of Herbaceous Flora along an Altitudinal Gradient in Bharmour Forest Division, District Chamba of Himachal Pradesh, India

    PubMed Central

    Thakur, Kehar S.; Kumar, Munesh; Bawa, Rajan; Bussmann, Rainer W.

    2014-01-01

    The present ethnobotanical study was carried out in Holi (Deol, Kut, Dal, and Lahaud Dhar) forest range and in Bharmor (Seri, Bharmour, Malkauta, Bharmani, Harsar, Dhancho, Sundrasi, Gorikund, and Manimahesh) forest range to obtain information on the plants used by the local inhabitants for several purposes. A total of 54 plants were recorded in this study. The plants are employed to treat simple diseases (cough, cold, fever, and burns) and some serious diseases (typhoid, jaundice, and kidney disease). Some of the plants are also used as incense for religious ceremonies and several other daily needs. But due to absence of scientific monitoring of plants, their cultivation, harvesting, and management techniques as well as sustainable use and lack of awareness of social factors, the availability of valuable plant resources is decreasing at an alarming rate. In addition, the indigenous knowledge regarding the use of lesser-known plants of this region is also rapidly declining. Therefore, the documentation of plant resources is a necessary step towards the goal of raising awareness in local communities about the importance of these plants and their further conservation. PMID:24876884

  12. Health status of elderly based on daily activities living, cholesterol and uric acid profile in Medan city

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Amelia, R.; Harahap, J.; Wahyuni, A. S.; Pratama, A.

    2018-03-01

    Health problems in the elderly come from declining body cells, so the function and body endurance decreased along with increased risk factors for diseases. This study aimed to determine the elderly health status in Public Health Center of Tuntungan Medan. Health status includes measurement of daily activities living (DAL),and health parameter include blood pressure, blood sugar level (BSL), cholesterol level and uric acid level. The study design was descriptive with cross-sectional approach. The study population was the entire elderly population residing in the service area of public health center of Tuntungan Medan (55 subjects). The elderly who had a reasonable level of independence were 47 subjects (85.5%), the majority of elderly were in the category of hypertension stage I (20 subjects; 36.4%) with a mean systolic blood pressure level was 143mmHg. Most of them have BSL that exceeded the standard limit (42 subjects; 76.4%) with BSL mean value was 177mg/dL.Uric acid levels were in the high category (34 subjects; 61.98%) with a mean value of 7.0mm/dL, and most of them have normal cholesterol (43 subjects; 78.2%).

  13. Isoniazid-induced neuropathy in a pre-pubertal child.

    PubMed

    Shetty, Naman S; Shah, Ira

    2018-06-13

    Isoniazid (INH)-induced peripheral neuritis is not uncommonly reported in adults, especially those with malnutrition and alcoholism, but it is very rare in children. INH leads to peripheral neuritis by causing a deficiency in the serum level of pyridoxine which depends on the dose of INH, duration of treatment and the patient's nutritional and acetylator status. A 12-year-old girl developed tingling and numbness of the lower limbs after commencing anti-tuberculous therapy which included INH 10 mg/kg/day. The symptoms continued despite the dose being reduced to 5 mg/kg/day. Nerve conduction velocity was normal. Her diet was poor: she consumed little or no fruit and vegetables and ate mostly dal and rice. Discontinuation of INH was advised and her therapy was changed to ofloxacin, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide along with a high dose of pyridoxine and multi-vitamins. The tingling and numbness subsided within 15 days, after which INH was prescribed at the dose of 10 mg/kg/day. Although INH-induced neuropathy is rare in children, the World Health Organization recommends pyridoxine prophylaxis for children on INH who are malnourished or have HIV infection.

  14. Informing real-world practice with real-world evidence: the value of PRECIS-2.

    PubMed

    Neta, Gila; Johnson, Karin E

    2018-05-21

    Real-world evidence is needed to inform real-world practice. Pragmatic controlled trials are intended to provide such evidence by assessing the effectiveness of medicines and other interventions in real-world settings, as opposed to explanatory trials that assess efficacy in highly controlled settings. Dal-Ré and colleagues (BMC Med 16:49, 2018) recently performed a literature review of studies published between 2014 and 2017 to assess the degree to which studies that self-identified as pragmatic were truly so. The authors found that over one-third of randomized controlled trials of drugs and biologics that were self-labeled as pragmatic used placebo controls (as opposed to usual care), tested medicines before licensing, or were conducted in a single site. Further, they proposed that, in order to improve the reliability of the 'pragmatic' label, investigators should assess their trials using the PRECIS-2 tool upon submission to funders, ethics boards, or journals. We appreciate the value of PRECIS-2 as an indicator to assess the pragmatic versus explanatory features in a trial, and we herein highlight the potential challenges and opportunities that may arise with its systematic and widespread use.

  15. Decoherence as a way to measure extremely soft collisions with dark matter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Riedel, C. Jess; Yavin, Itay

    2017-07-01

    A new frontier in the search for dark matter (DM) is based on the idea of detecting the decoherence caused by DM scattering against a mesoscopic superposition of normal matter. Such superpositions are uniquely sensitive to very small momentum transfers from new particles and forces, especially DM with a mass below 100 MeV. Here we investigate what sorts of dark sectors are inaccessible with existing methods but would induce noticeable decoherence in the next generation of matter interferometers. We show that very soft but medium range (0.1 nm - 1 μ m ) elastic interactions between nuclei and DM are particularly suitable. We construct toy models for such interactions, discuss existing constraints, and delineate the expected sensitivity of forthcoming experiments. The first hints of DM in these devices would appear as small variations in the anomalous decoherence rate with a period of one sidereal day. This is a generic signature of interstellar sources of decoherence, clearly distinguishing it from terrestrial backgrounds. The OTIMA experiment under development in Vienna will begin to probe Earth-thermalizing DM once sidereal variations in the background decoherence rate are pushed below one part in a hundred for superposed 5-nm gold nanoparticles. The proposals by Bateman et al. and Geraci et al. could be similarly sensitive although they would require at least a month of data taking. DM that is absorbed or elastically reflected by the Earth, and so avoids a greenhouse density enhancement, would not be detectable by those three experiments. On the other hand, the aggressive proposals of the MAQRO collaboration and Pino et al. would immediately open up many orders of magnitude in DM mass, interaction range, and coupling strength, regardless of how DM behaves in bulk matter.

  16. PAH1-encoded Phosphatidate Phosphatase Plays a Role in the Growth Phase- and Inositol-mediated Regulation of Lipid Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

    PubMed Central

    Pascual, Florencia; Soto-Cardalda, Aníbal; Carman, George M.

    2013-01-01

    In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the synthesis of phospholipids in the exponential phase of growth occurs at the expense of the storage lipid triacylglycerol. As exponential phase cells progress into the stationary phase, the synthesis of triacylglycerol occurs at the expense of phospholipids. Early work indicates a role of the phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP) in this metabolism; the enzyme produces the diacylglycerol needed for the synthesis of triacylglycerol and simultaneously controls the level of phosphatidate for the synthesis of phospholipids. Four genes (APP1, DPP1, LPP1, and PAH1) encode PAP activity in yeast, and it has been unclear which gene is responsible for the synthesis of triacylglycerol throughout growth. An analysis of lipid synthesis and composition, as well as PAP activity in various PAP mutant strains, showed the essential role of PAH1 in triacylglycerol synthesis throughout growth. Pah1p is a phosphorylated enzyme whose in vivo function is dependent on its dephosphorylation by the Nem1p-Spo7p protein phosphatase complex. nem1Δ mutant cells exhibited defects in triacylglycerol synthesis and lipid metabolism that mirrored those imparted by the pah1Δ mutation, substantiating the importance of Pah1p dephosphorylation throughout growth. An analysis of cells bearing PPAH1-lacZ and PPAH1-DPP1 reporter genes showed that PAH1 expression was induced throughout growth and that the induction in the stationary phase was stimulated by inositol supplementation. A mutant analysis indicated that the Ino2p/Ino4p/Opi1p regulatory circuit and transcription factors Gis1p and Rph1p mediated this regulation. PMID:24196957

  17. Changes in crevicular cytokines after application of melatonin in patients with periodontal disease

    PubMed Central

    Montero, Javier; López-Valverde, Nansi; Ferrera, María-José

    2017-01-01

    Background A clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effects of topical application of melatonin on the crevicular fluid levels of interleukins and prostaglandins and to evaluate changes in clinical parameters. Material and Methods A consecutive sample of 90 patients were recruited from the Health Centre of Pinos Puente in Granada, Spain and divided into 3 groups: 30 patients with diabetes and periodontal disease, who were given melatonin; 30 patients with diabetes and periodontal disease, who were given a placebo, and 30 healthy individuals with no history of systemic disease or clinical signs of periodontal disease, who were also given a placebo. The 30 patients with diabetes and periodontitis were treated with topical application of melatonin (1% orabase cream formula) for 20 days by. The rest of the patients with diabetes and periodontitis and healthy subjects were treated with a placebo of orabase cream. We measured the gingival index by exploring the percentage of standing teeth bleeding on probing. The periodontogram was performed with a Florida Probe. Results In the diabetic patients who were given topical melatonin, there was a statistically significant decrease in the two clinical parameters. By contrast, in diabetic patients who were given the topical placebo, there was no statistically significant variation. Conclusions In patients with diabetes and periodontal disease, treatment with topical melatonin was associated with a significant improvement in the gingival index and in pocket depth, and a statistically significant reduction in concentrations of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and prostaglandin E2 in gingival crevicular fluid. Key words:Melatonin, periodontal disease, diabetes mellitus, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, prostaglandin E2. PMID:29075409

  18. Genome-wide analysis reveals inositol, not choline, as the major effector of Ino2p-Ino4p and unfolded protein response target gene expression in yeast.

    PubMed

    Jesch, Stephen A; Zhao, Xin; Wells, Martin T; Henry, Susan A

    2005-03-11

    In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the transcription of many genes encoding enzymes of phospholipid biosynthesis are repressed in cells grown in the presence of the phospholipid precursors inositol and choline. A genome-wide approach using cDNA microarray technology was used to profile the changes in the expression of all genes in yeast that respond to the exogenous presence of inositol and choline. We report that the global response to inositol is completely distinct from the effect of choline. Whereas the effect of inositol on gene expression was primarily repressing, the effect of choline on gene expression was activating. Moreover, the combination of inositol and choline increased the number of repressed genes compared with inositol alone and enhanced the repression levels of a subset of genes that responded to inositol. In all, 110 genes were repressed in the presence of inositol and choline. Two distinct sets of genes exhibited differential expression in response to inositol or the combination of inositol and choline in wild-type cells. One set of genes contained the UASINO sequence and were bound by Ino2p and Ino4p. Many of these genes were also negatively regulated by OPI1, suggesting a common regulatory mechanism for Ino2p, Ino4p, and Opi1p. Another nonoverlapping set of genes was coregulated by the unfolded protein response pathway, an ER-localized stress response pathway, but was not dependent on OPI1 and did not show further repression when choline was present together with inositol. These results suggest that inositol is the major effector of target gene expression, whereas choline plays a minor role.

  19. Genome Wide Analysis Reveals Inositol, not Choline, as the Major Effector of Ino2p-Ino4p and Unfolded Protein Response Target Gene Expression in Yeast

    PubMed Central

    Jesch, Stephen A.; Zhao, Xin; Wells, Martin T.; Henry, Susan A.

    2005-01-01

    SUMMARY In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae the transcription of many genes encoding enzymes of phospholipid biosynthesis are repressed in cells grown in the presence of the phospholipid precursors inositol and choline. A genome-wide approach using cDNA microarray technology was utilized to profile the changes in the expression of all genes in yeast that respond to the exogenous presence of inositol and choline. We report that the global response to inositol is completely distinct from the effect of choline. Whereas the effect of inositol on gene expression was primarily repressing, the effect of choline on gene expression was activating. Moreover, the combination inositol and choline increased the number of repressed genes compared to inositol alone and enhanced the repression levels of a subset of genes that responded to inositol. In all, 110 genes were repressed in the presence of inositol and choline. Two distinct sets of genes exhibited differential expression in response to inositol or the combination of inositol and choline in wild type cells. One set of genes contained the UASINO sequence and were bound by Ino2p and Ino4p. Many of these genes were also negatively regulated by OPI1, suggesting a common regulatory mechanism for Ino2p, Ino4p, and Opi1p. Another non-overlapping set of genes were coregulated by the unfolded protein response pathway, an ER-localized stress response pathway, but were not dependent on OPI1 and did not show further repression when choline was present together with inositol. These results suggest that inositol is the major effector of target gene expression, while choline plays a minor role. PMID:15611057

  20. Genome expression analysis in yeast reveals novel transcriptional regulation by inositol and choline and new regulatory functions for Opi1p, Ino2p, and Ino4p.

    PubMed

    Santiago, Teresa C; Mamoun, Choukri Ben

    2003-10-03

    In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, genes encoding phospholipid-synthesizing enzymes are regulated by inositol and choline (IC). The current model suggests that when these precursors become limiting, the transcriptional complex Ino2p-Ino4p activates the expression of these genes, whereas repression requires Opi1p and occurs when IC are available. In this study, microarray-based expression analysis was performed to assess the global transcriptional response to IC in a wild-type strain and in the opi1delta, ino2delta, and ino4delta null mutant strains. Fifty genes were either activated or repressed by IC in the wild-type strain, including three already known IC-repressed genes. We demonstrated that the IC response was not limited to genes involved in membrane biogenesis, but encompassed various metabolic pathways such as biotin synthesis, one-carbon compound metabolism, nitrogen-containing compound transport and degradation, cell wall organization and biogenesis, and acetyl-CoA metabolism. The expression of a large number of IC-regulated genes did not change in the opi1delta, ino2delta, and ino4delta strains, thus implicating new regulatory elements in the IC response. Our studies revealed that Opi1p, Ino2p, and Ino4p have dual regulatory activities, acting in both positive and negative transcriptional regulation of a large number of genes, most of which are not regulated by IC and only a subset of which is involved in membrane biogenesis. These data provide the first global response profile of yeast to IC and reveal novel regulatory mechanisms by these precursors.

  1. Yeast transcriptional activator INO2 interacts as an Ino2p/Ino4p basic helix-loop-helix heteromeric complex with the inositol/choline-responsive element necessary for expression of phospholipid biosynthetic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

    PubMed Central

    Schwank, S; Ebbert, R; Rautenstrauss, K; Schweizer, E; Schüller, H J

    1995-01-01

    Coordinate transcriptional control of yeast genes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis is mediated by the inositol/choline-responsive element (ICRE) contained in the respective promoter regions. Regulatory genes INO2 and INO4, both encoding basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins, are necessary for ICRE-dependent gene activation. By the use of size variants and by heterologous expression in E. coli we demonstrate that Ino2p and Ino4p are both necessary and sufficient for the formation of the previously described FAS binding factor 1, Fbf1, interacting with the ICRE. Formation of a heteromeric complex between Ino2p and Ino4p by means of the respective bHLH domains was demonstrated in vivo by the interaction of appropriate two-hybrid constructs and in vitro by Far-Western analyses. Neither Ino2p nor Ino4p binds to the ICRE as a homodimer. When fused to the DNA-binding domain of Gal4p, Ino2p but not Ino4p was able to activate a UASGAL-containing reporter gene even in the absence of the heterologous Fbf1 subunit. By deletion studies, two separate transcriptional activation domains were identified in the N-terminal part of Ino2p. Thus, the bHLH domains of Ino2p and Ino4p constitute the dimerization/DNA-binding module of Fbf1 mediating its interaction with the ICRE, while transcriptional activation is effected exclusively by Ino2p. Images PMID:7862526

  2. Visible Photodissociation Spectra of the 1-METHYL and 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE Cations: Laser Spectroscopy and Theoretical Simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Friha, Hela; Feraud, Geraldine; Falvo, Cyril; Parneix, Pascal; Pino, Thomas; Brechignac, Philippe; Troy, Tyler; Schmidt, Timothy; Dhaouadi, Zoubeida

    2014-06-01

    Naphthalene (Np) and its methylated derivatives (1-Me-Np and 2-Me-Np) are prototype molecules for spectroscopists as first members of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) family. High resolution studies are capable to explore the details of the internal rotation of the methyl group. Although this was achieved in neutral PAHs, the task is not the same in cations. Me-Np cations have been probed by resonance-enhanced multiphoton dissociation, showing only very broad and unresolved spectra, while absorption in argon matrix revealed more resolved vibronic bands. The electronic absorption gas phase spectra of 1-Me-Np^+ and 2-Me-Np^+ were measured using an Ar-tagging technique. In both cases, a band system was observed in the visible range and assigned to the D_2← D_0 transition. The 1-Me-Np^+ absorption bands revealed a red shift of 808 cm-1, relative to Np^+ (14 906 cm-1), while for 2-Me-Np^+ a blue shift of 226 cm-1 was found. A short vibrational progression was also observed. Moreover, insights into the internal rotation motion of the CH_3 were inferred, although intrinsic broadening due to intramolecular relaxation was present. These measurements were supported by detailed quantum chemical calculations that allowed exploration of the potential energy curves, along with a complete simulation of the harmonic FC factors using the cumulant Gaussian fluctuations formalism, extended to include the internal rotation. see for instance Baba et al, J.Phys.Chem.A, 2009, 113, 2366 Dunbar et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1976, 98, 7994-7999; J.Phys.Chem. 1985, 89, 3617 Andrews et al, J.Phys.Chem. 1982, 86, 2916 Pino et al, J. Chem. Phys. 1999, 111, 7337-7347

  3. On the instrumental characterization of a 3-λ scanning lidar to monitor industrial flames and its application for retrieving optical and microphysical properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guerrero-Rascado, Juan Luis; da Costa, Renata; Esteban Bedoya, Andrés; Guardani, Roberto; Alados-Arboledas, Lucas; Efrain Bastidas, Álvaro; Landulfo, Eduardo

    2015-04-01

    The emission of pollutants in megacities and industrial areas can have strong impact, not only from an environmental point of view, but also for human health. Cubatão (23° 53' S, 46° 26' W, 10 m asl) has been one of the most industrialized city in Brazil (located at São Paulo state coast) during the last decades. This work deals with the recent advances made on a 3-λ scanning lidar placed at this industrial region. Special attention has been paid to the characterization of the electronic performance of this lidar system. For this goal, the quality assurance tests, regularly applied in well-established lidar networks such as LALINET [Guerrero-Rascado et al., 2014] and EARLINET [Pappalardo et al. 2014], were applied to the Cubatão scanning lidar in order to improve the knowledge of its performing itself and to design protocols for correcting lidar signal for undesirable instrumental effects. The application of the results derived from these quality assurance tests together with the state-of-the-art methodologies to map the particle optical and microphysical properties inside industrial flares demonstrate the potential of this lidar for the study and measurement of industrial emissions. References: J. L. Guerrero-Rascado, E. Landulfo, J. C. Antuña, H. M. J. Barbosa, B. Barja, A. E. Bastidas, A. E. Bedoya, R. da Costa, R. Estevan, R. N. Forno, D. A. Gouveia, C. Jiménez, E. G. Larroza, F. J. S. Lopes, E. Montilla-Rosero, G. A. Moreira, W. M. Nakaema, D. Nisperuza, L. Otero, J. V. Pallotta, S. Papandrea, E. Pawelko, E. J. Quel, P. Ristori, P. F. Rodrigues, J. Salvador, M. F. Sánchez, and A. Silva, "Towards an instrumental harmonization in the framework of LAINET: dataset of technical specifications", Proceedings of SPIE 2014, vol. 9246, 92460O-1 -- 92460O-14, doi: 10.1117/12.2066873 (2014) G. Pappalardo, A. Amodeo, A. Apituley, A. Comerón, V. Freudenthaler, H. Linné, A. Ansmann, J. Bösenberg, G. D'Amico, I. Mattis, L. Mona, U. Wandinger, V. Amiridis, L. Alados-Arboledas, D. Nicolae, and M. Wiegner, "EARLINET: towards an advanced sustainable European aerosol lidar network," Atmos. Meas. Tech. 7(8), 2389-2409 (2014)

  4. Studies on adsorption of phenol from wastewater by agricultural waste.

    PubMed

    Girish, C R; Ramachandramurty, V

    2013-07-01

    In this paper, preliminary investigation of various agricultural wastes-Rice mill residue (RM), Wheat mill reside (WM), Dall mill residue (DM) and the Banana peels (BM) was carried out to study their ability to be used as adsorbents for phenol-removal from wastewater. This study reports the feasibility of employing dal mill residue waste (DM) as an adsorbent for removing phenol from wastewater. The performance of DM was compared with the commercially available activated carbon (CAC). Batch mode experiments were conducted with activated DM to study the effects of initial concentration of phenol, pH and the temperature of aqueous solution on adsorption. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms and kinetics were investigated. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models and the isotherm data fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm with monolayer adsorption capacity of 6.189 mg/g. The kinetic data obtained at different concentrations were analyzed using a pseudo-first order and pseudo-second- order equation. The experimental data fitted very well with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The FTIR analysis revealed that carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups were mainly responsible for the sorption of phenol. Finally, the DM was found to be a promising adsorbent for phenol adsorption as compared to activated carbon.

  5. Mineral content of complementary foods.

    PubMed

    Jani, Rati; Udipi, S A; Ghugre, P S

    2009-01-01

    To document mineral contents iron, zinc, calcium, energy contents and nutrient densities in complementary foods commonly given to young urban slum children. Information on dietary intake was collected from 892 mothers of children aged 13-24 months, using 24 hour dietary recall and standardized measures. Three variations of 27 most commonly prepared recipes were analyzed and their energy (Kcal/g) and nutrient densities (mg/100 Kcal) were calculated. Considerable variations were observed in preparation of all items fed to the children. Cereal-based items predominated their diets with only small amount of vegetables/fruits. Fenugreek was the only leafy vegetable included, but was given to only 1-2% of children. Iron, calcium, zinc contents of staple complementary foods ranged from: 0.33 mg to 3.73 mg, 4 mg to 64 mg, and 0.35 mg to 2.99 mg/100 respectively. Recipes diluted with less water and containing vegetables, spices had higher mineral content. Minerals densities were higher for dals, fenugreek vegetable, khichdi and chapatti. Using the median amounts of the various recipes fed to children, intakes of all nutrients examined especially calcium and iron was low. There is an urgent need to educate mothers about consistency, dilution, quantity, frequency, method of preparation, inclusion of micronutrient-rich foods, energy-dense complementary foods and gender equality.

  6. Color pattern specific proteins in black scales in developing wings ofPrecis coenia Hübner (Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera).

    PubMed

    Koch, P Bernhardt; Nijhout, H Frederik

    1990-05-01

    A set of stage specific proteins of approximally 86 to 90 kDal are synthesized by isolated wings ofPrecis coenia on day 5 of the pupal stage. They are named "B proteins". They are synthesized in presumptive black wing areas in higher amounts than in presumptive white wing areas and are the major proteins synthesized on day 5. Wings from 5 days old pupae, which were incubated with 35 S-methionine for 2 or 4 hours, incorporate radiolabel into presumptive black pattern elements. This is probably due to the localized synthesis of the above mentioned proteins. Injection of 35 S-methionine into whole pupae on day 5 resulted in the labelling of the mature black and grey scales but not white scales. This radiolabel incorporation pattern corresponds exactly to the incorporation of the melanin precursor 14 C-tyrosine into the scales. The results indicate that the "B proteins" are specifically related to the formation of black and grey portions of thePrecis wing pattern. Injection of 35 S-methionine into whole pupae on day 6 resulted in the labelling of the mature red scales probably due to labelling of "R proteins", which may be involved in the formation of red pattern elements.

  7. Reform of the EIA process in Indonesia: improving the role of public involvement

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Purnama, Dadang

    2003-07-01

    The implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a planning tool has been utilised for a relatively long time in Indonesia. It was introduced formally through the Act No. 4/1982. Supporting regulation was established in 1986 when Government Regulation No. 29 was enacted. After developing the EIA system for 14 years, Indonesia finally recognized the importance of emphasizing public involvement in the EIA guidelines of 2000. EIA in the previous Indonesian regulations, i.e. Regulation No. 29/1986 and No. 51/1993, did not have provisions for direct public involvement. The Indonesian Government Regulation No. 27/1999 is currently accommodating the above issue. Guidelinesmore » for public announcement and public involvement have been introduced in a decree issued by the Head of Indonesia's Environmental Impact Management Agency No. KepDal 08/2000. This was officially enacted on 7 November 2000 in response to the demand for more public involvement, an issue that was ambiguous in the previous legislation. This paper discusses: the implementation of the new guidelines; what has been achieved; and the challenges during implementation. While the paper focuses its review on the Indonesian EIA system, Indonesia's experience is relevant to many other developing countries that are starting to adopt public involvement in their decision-making processes.« less

  8. Fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide and polyol content of foods commonly consumed by ethnic minority groups in the United Kingdom.

    PubMed

    Prichard, Rebeca; Rossi, Megan; Muir, Jane; Yao, Ck; Whelan, Kevin; Lomer, Miranda

    2016-06-01

    Dietary restriction of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) is an effective management approach for functional bowel disorders; however, its application is limited by the paucity of food composition data available for ethnic minority groups. The aim was to identify and measure the FODMAP content of these commonly consumed foods. According to their perceived importance to clinical practise, the top 20 ranked foods underwent FODMAP analysis using validated analytical techniques (total fructans, Megazyme hexokinase (HK) assay; all others, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detectors). Of the 20 foods analysed, five were identified as significant sources of at least one FODMAP. Fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides were the major FODMAPs in these foods, including channa dal (0.13 g/100 g; 0.36 g/100 g), fenugreek seeds (1.11 g/100 g; 1.27 g/100 g), guava (0.41 g/100 g; not detected), karela (not detected; 1.12 g/100 g) and tamarind (2.35 g/100 g; 0.02 g/100 g). Broadening the availability of FODMAP composition data will increase the cultural application of low FODMAP dietary advice.

  9. The continental Etirol-Levaz slice (Western Alps, Italy): Tectonometamorphic evolution of an extensional allochthon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ewerling, Kathrin; Obermüller, Gerrit; Kirst, Frederik; Froitzheim, Nikolaus; Nagel, Thorsten; Sandmann, Sascha

    2013-04-01

    The Etirol-Levaz slice (ELS) in the western Valtournenche of Italy is a continental fragment trapped between two oceanic units, the eclogite-facies Zermatt-Saas Zone in the footwall and the greenschist-facies Combin Zone in the hanging wall. It has been interpreted as an extensional allochthon derived from the Adriatic continental margin and stranded inside the Piemont-Ligurian oceanic domain during Jurassic rifting (Dal Piaz et al., 2001; Beltrando et al., 2010). The slice consists of Variscan high-grade gneisses, micaschists and metabasics overprinted under eclogite-facies conditions during Early Tertiary Alpine subduction. Eclogites generally consist of garnet + omphacite ± epidote ± amphibole ± phengite ± quartz. We investigate their metamorphic history using equilibrium phase diagrams, mineral compositions, and textural relations between prograde, peak, and retrograde phases. In sample FD328, garnets have compositions of Alm52-61 Grs18-41 Prp5-22 Sps0.5-2 and typical growth zoning. Some garnet grains are brittlely fractured, strongly corroded and overgrown by epidote. Amphibole occurs as a major phase in the matrix and shows a progressive evolution from glaucophane in the core to pargasitic hornblende towards the rim. Sample FD329 with a particular Ca-rich bulk composition (18.3 wt% Ca) displays two distinct garnet generations. Perfectly euhedral cores show compositions of Grs42-45 Alm47-51 Prp3-6 Sps2-7 and typical prograde growth zoning. These cores are overgrown by irregularly shaped rims characterised by an initial rise in Mn and the Fe-Mg ratio. Omphacite in this sample with jadeite-contents of 19-28 mol% apparently has been fractured and annealed by jadeite-poor (7-12 mol%) omphacite suggesting brittle behaviour at eclogite-facies conditions or two high-pressure stages with lower metamorphic conditions in between. We discuss whether the ELS experienced the same monocyclic metamorphic history as the Zermatt-Saas Zone or not. Some of our observations suggest that the ELS experienced two independent stages of high-pressure metamorphism during the Alpine orogeny, e.g. as proposed by Rubatto et al. (2011) for the Sesia Nappe. A lower-pressure stage in between might have been associated with brittle fracturing of high-pressure phases like garnet, glaucophane, and omphacite while the second generations of these minerals might indicate a new stage of increasing pressures and/or temperatures. References Beltrando, M., Rubatto, D. & Manatschal, G. (2010): From passive margins to orogens: The link between ocean-continent transition zones and (ultra)high-pressure metamorphism. Geology, 6, 559-562. Dal Piaz, G.V., Cortiana, G., Del Moro, A., Martin, S., Pennacchioni, G. & Tartarotti, P. (2001): Tertiary age and paleostructural inferences of the eclogitic imprint in the Austroalpine outliers and Zermatt-Saas ophiolite, western Alps. Int. J. Earth Sci., 90, 668-684. Rubatto, D., Regis, D., Hermann, J., Boston, K., Engi, M., Beltrando, M. & McAlpine, S.R.B. (2011): Yo-yo subduction recorded by accessory minerals in the Italian Western Alps. Nature Geoscience, 4, 338-342.

  10. Planning multiple movements within a fixed time limit: The cost of constrained time allocation in a visuo-motor task

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Hang; Wu, Shih-Wei; Maloney, Laurence T.

    2010-01-01

    S.-W. Wu, M. F. Dal Martello, and L. T. Maloney (2009) evaluated subjects' performance in a visuo-motor task where subjects were asked to hit two targets in sequence within a fixed time limit. Hitting targets earned rewards and Wu et al. varied rewards associated with targets. They found that subjects failed to maximize expected gain; they failed to invest more time in the movement to the more valuable target. What could explain this lack of response to reward? We first considered the possibility that subjects require training in allocating time between two movements. In Experiment 1, we found that, after extensive training, subjects still failed: They did not vary time allocation with changes in payoff. However, their actual gains equaled or exceeded the expected gain of an ideal time allocator, indicating that constraining time itself has a cost for motor accuracy. In a second experiment, we found that movements made under externally imposed time limits were less accurate than movements made with the same timing freely selected by the mover. Constrained time allocation cost about 17% in expected gain. These results suggest that there is no single speed–accuracy tradeoff for movement in our task and that subjects pursued different motor strategies with distinct speed–accuracy tradeoffs in different conditions. PMID:20884550

  11. Relative Bioavailability of Iron in Bangladeshi Traditional Meals Prepared with Iron-Fortified Lentil Dal

    PubMed Central

    Podder, Rajib; M. DellaValle, Diane; T. Tyler, Robert; P. Glahn, Raymond; Tako, Elad; Vandenberg, Albert

    2018-01-01

    Due to low Fe bioavailability and low consumption per meal, lentil must be fortified to contribute significant bioavailable Fe in the Bangladeshi diet. Moreover, since red lentil is dehulled prior to consumption, an opportunity exists at this point to fortify lentil with Fe. Thus, in the present study, lentil was Fe-fortified (using a fortificant Fe concentration of 2800 µg g−1) and used in 30 traditional Bangladeshi meals with broad differences in concentrations of iron, phytic acid (PA), and relative Fe bioavailability (RFeB%). Fortification with NaFeEDTA increased the iron concentration in lentil from 60 to 439 µg g−1 and resulted in a 79% increase in the amount of available Fe as estimated by Caco-2 cell ferritin formation. Phytic acid levels were reduced from 6.2 to 4.6 mg g−1 when fortified lentil was added, thereby reducing the PA:Fe molar ratio from 8.8 to 0.9. This effect was presumably due to dephytinization of fortified lentil during the fortification process. A significant (p ≤ 0.01) Pearson correlation was observed between Fe concentration and RFeB% and between RFeB% and PA:Fe molar ratio in meals with fortified lentil, but not for the meal with unfortified lentil. In conclusion, fortified lentil can contribute significant bioavailable Fe to populations at risk of Fe deficiency. PMID:29543712

  12. Relative Bioavailability of Iron in Bangladeshi Traditional Meals Prepared with Iron-Fortified Lentil Dal.

    PubMed

    Podder, Rajib; M DellaValle, Diane; T Tyler, Robert; P Glahn, Raymond; Tako, Elad; Vandenberg, Albert

    2018-03-15

    Due to low Fe bioavailability and low consumption per meal, lentil must be fortified to contribute significant bioavailable Fe in the Bangladeshi diet. Moreover, since red lentil is dehulled prior to consumption, an opportunity exists at this point to fortify lentil with Fe. Thus, in the present study, lentil was Fe-fortified (using a fortificant Fe concentration of 2800 µg g -1 ) and used in 30 traditional Bangladeshi meals with broad differences in concentrations of iron, phytic acid (PA), and relative Fe bioavailability (RFeB%). Fortification with NaFeEDTA increased the iron concentration in lentil from 60 to 439 µg g -1 and resulted in a 79% increase in the amount of available Fe as estimated by Caco-2 cell ferritin formation. Phytic acid levels were reduced from 6.2 to 4.6 mg g -1 when fortified lentil was added, thereby reducing the PA:Fe molar ratio from 8.8 to 0.9. This effect was presumably due to dephytinization of fortified lentil during the fortification process. A significant ( p ≤ 0.01) Pearson correlation was observed between Fe concentration and RFeB% and between RFeB% and PA:Fe molar ratio in meals with fortified lentil, but not for the meal with unfortified lentil. In conclusion, fortified lentil can contribute significant bioavailable Fe to populations at risk of Fe deficiency.

  13. Current Therapeutic Cannabis Controversies and Clinical Trial Design Issues

    PubMed Central

    Russo, Ethan B.

    2016-01-01

    This overview covers a wide range of cannabis topics, initially examining issues in dispensaries and self-administration, plus regulatory requirements for production of cannabis-based medicines, particularly the Food and Drug Administration “Botanical Guidance.” The remainder pertains to various cannabis controversies that certainly require closer examination if the scientific, consumer, and governmental stakeholders are ever to reach consensus on safety issues, specifically: whether botanical cannabis displays herbal synergy of its components, pharmacokinetics of cannabis and dose titration, whether cannabis medicines produce cyclo-oxygenase inhibition, cannabis-drug interactions, and cytochrome P450 issues, whether cannabis randomized clinical trials are properly blinded, combatting the placebo effect in those trials via new approaches, the drug abuse liability (DAL) of cannabis-based medicines and their regulatory scheduling, their effects on cognitive function and psychiatric sequelae, immunological effects, cannabis and driving safety, youth usage, issues related to cannabis smoking and vaporization, cannabis concentrates and vape-pens, and laboratory analysis for contamination with bacteria and heavy metals. Finally, the issue of pesticide usage on cannabis crops is addressed. New and disturbing data on pesticide residues in legal cannabis products in Washington State are presented with the observation of an 84.6% contamination rate including potentially neurotoxic and carcinogenic agents. With ongoing developments in legalization of cannabis in medical and recreational settings, numerous scientific, safety, and public health issues remain. PMID:27683558

  14. [Impact of high salt consumption of blood pressure on a non-hypertensive population].

    PubMed

    Domínguez Cancino, Karen; Paredes Escobar, María Cristina

    2017-12-01

    Background There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of salt intake in blood pressure (BP). Aim To estimate the impact of salt consumption on the BP level of a non-hypertensive population aged between 15 and 64 years. Material and Methods Analytical-observational study using data from the National Health Survey 2009-2010. A BP cut-off point at 120/80 mmHg BP was considered to determine risk. Salt consumption was divided into four strata. The prevalence ratios (PR) were determined using the Poisson model with robust variance. The formulas of the studies of Dal Grande and Walter for the estimation of population attributable fraction (PAF) were used. Results The sample was constituted by 1,263 individuals and 24.3% had BP at risk. A statistically significant association was observed between high salt intake and risk BP with PR of 1.91 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.44-2.57) in the consumption stratum of 11 g / day and more. It was estimated that 4.7% (95% CI 4.2-5.2) of BP risk can be attributed to salt consumption, when controlling by age group, sex and educational level. Conclusions The 4.7% PAF is lower than the figure of 30% reported abroad. Interventions to reduce salt consumption in the entire population and the identification of risk groups are recommended.

  15. Anti-tumor and Chemoprotective Effect of Bauhinia tomentosa by Regulating Growth Factors and Inflammatory Mediators.

    PubMed

    Kannan, Narayanan; Sakthivel, Kunnathur Murugesan; Guruvayoorappan, Chandrasekaran

    2015-01-01

    Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Due to the toxic side effects of the commonly used chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide (CTX), the use of herbal medicines with fewer side effects but having potential use as inducing anti-cancer outcomes in situ has become increasingly popular. The present study sought to investigate the effects of a methanolic extract of Bauhinia tomentosa against Dalton's ascites lymphoma (DAL) induced ascites as well as solid tumors in BALB/c mice. Specifically, B. tomentosa extract was administered intraperitonealy (IP) at 10 mg/kg. BW body weight starting just after tumor cell implantation and thereafter for 10 consecutive days. In the ascites tumor model hosts, administration of extract resulted in a 52% increase in the life span. In solid tumor models, co-administration of extract and CTX significantly reduced tumor volume (relative to in untreated hosts) by 73% compared to just by 52% when the extract alone was provided. Co-administration of the extract also mitigated CTX-induced toxicity, including decreases in WBC count, and in bone marrow cellularity and α-esterase activity. Extract treatment also attenuated any increases in serum levels of TNFα, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, GM-CSF, and VEGF seen in tumor-bearing hosts. This study confirmed that, the potent antitumor activity of B.tomentosa extract may be associated with immune modulatory effects by regulating anti-oxidants and cytokine levels.

  16. Factors influencing release of phosphorus from sediments in a high productive polymictic lake system.

    PubMed

    Solim, S U; Wanganeo, A

    2009-01-01

    Phosphorus (P) release rates from bottom sediments are high (20.6 mg/m(2)/day) in Dal Lake (India), a polymictic hyper-eutrophic lake. These gross release rates occur over a period of 72 days during summer only. Likewise, a net internal load of 11.3 tons was obtained from mass balance estimates. Significant proportion i.e. approximately 80% of 287.3 tons/yr of nitrate nitrogen (NO(3)-N) load is either eliminated by denitrification or gets entrapped for a short period in high macrophyte biomass of 3.2 kg/m(2) f.w., which eventually get decomposed and nitrogen (N) is released back. These processes result in low lake water NO(3)-N concentrations which potentially influence sediment phosphorus (P) release. Especially, nitrate nitrogen (NO(3)-N) <500 microg/L in the lake waters were associated with high P concentrations. Phosphorus was also observed to increase significantly in relation to temperature and pH, and it seems likely that release of phosphorus and ammonical nitrogen (NH(4)-N) depend on decomposition of rich reserves of organic matter (893 tons d.w. in superficial 10-cm bottom sediment layer). Lake P concentrations were significantly predicted by a multivariate regression model developed for the lake. This study describes significance of various lake water variables in relation to P-release from bottom sediments.

  17. The Application of 238U/235U as a Redox-Proxy for Past Ocean Chemistry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Andersen, M. B.; Westermann, S.; Bahniuk, A.; Vasconcelos, C.; McKenzie, J. A.; Föllmi, K. B.; Vance, D.

    2014-12-01

    The recent discovery of significant variation in 238U/235U caused by redox change at the surface Earth has led to its use to extract information on the oxygenation state of ancient oceans from marine sediments [e.g. 1]. Recent studies have focused on improving the understanding of the 238U/235U signature in modern marine carbonates [2] and black shales [3] to improve the robustness of this tracer. To further advance its use we have focused on improving our understanding of 238U/235U systematics in modern dolomite, another commonly occurring rock-type in the geological record, before turning to 238U/235U signatures in ancient sediments. The measured dolomite samples, precipitated in modern environments of coastal hypersaline lagoons in Brazil, all exhibit 238U/235U values that deviate from the seawater composition [3]. Observed values are both lighter (ca. 130 ppm; as also observed in dolomite from tidal-ponds on Bahamas [2]) and heavier (50-180 ppm). These distinct 238U/235U values for different dolomite-precipitates likely attest to the particular formation style, as well as early diagenetic processes. We use such modern settings to discuss the utility of 238U/235U in ancient sediments, the singularity of any observed 238U/235U signal, its relation to global ocean chemistry and potential diagenetic overprinting. These constraints are then used to evaluate a well-preserved marine carbonate section [4] and published black shale 238U/235U data [1], both deposited during the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (93 Ma). We discuss the capabilities of both the carbonate and black shale section for retaining information on the 238U/235U composition in the ocean during OAE 2. [1] Montoya-Pino et al. (2010) Geology, 38, 315-318 [2] Romaniello et al. (2013) 362, 305-316 [3] Andersen et al. (2014) EPSL, 400, 184-194 [4] Westermann et al. (2010) Cret. Res., 31, 500-514

  18. [Assessment of dietary habits related to iodine intake and iodine concentration and thyroid dysfunction in a non-preselected population in Spain (the Thyrobus Project)].

    PubMed

    Ballester, Lluís Vila; Candil, Sergio Donnay; Reymunde, Teresa Iglesias; Escofet, Federico Soriguer; Henzi, Frederic Tortosa; Jaramillo, Sara Torrejón; Alcázar, Javier; Tapias, María José; Torres, Yolanda; Puig-Domingo, Manel

    2010-11-01

    Most of the studies on urinary iodine levels in Spain in the last decade have reported a significant improvement. A survey was undertaken together with an information campaign on the thyroid gland, the importance of iodine intake and hypothyroidism in four Spanish cities. The goals of the survey were to obtain information on consumption of iodine-containing foods, to measure urinary iodine levels and to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction. A non-preselected population attending the information campaign centers located in Barcelona, La Coruña, Malaga and Madrid was studied. A questionnaire on fish, milk and iodized salt consumption was administered. Urinary iodine levels (Pino's method) and thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations (Whatman 903® dry paper method) were measured. A total of 872 questionnaires were completed (Madrid 40%; La Coruña 27%; Malaga 19%; and Barcelona 14%). The mean age was 51 years (SD 16); 81% were women. A total of 60.6% of interviewees reported they consumed iodized salt, 90.8% reported daily milk intake and 29.3% reported fish consumption ≥3 times per week. The mean urinary iodine concentration was 143.2 μg/L. The prevalence of high TSH levels (>4 mUI/L) was 1.3% and that of low TSH levels (<0.4 mUI/mL) was 1.2%. According to the World Health Organization criteria, the median urinary iodine concentration, both overall or by city, is indicative of optimal iodine intake. In addition to iodized salt intake, consumption of products such as milk and fish has probably contributed to these positive results. The prevalences of undiagnosed hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism detected in this study were similar to those found in other studies. Copyright © 2010 SEEN. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  19. Quantitative studies of kinetic effects in direct- and indirect-drive Inertial Confinement Fusion implosions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rinderknecht, Hans

    2013-10-01

    A comprehensive set of experiments using shock-driven implosions has been conducted to quantitatively study kinetic effects by exploring deviations from hydrodynamic behavior in plasmas relevant to inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Two types of targets were imploded at OMEGA to create ~10 keV, ~1022 cm-3 plasmas with conditions comparable to the incipient hotspot in ignition designs: thin-glass targets filled with mixtures of D2 and 3He gas; and thin deuterated-plastic shells filled with 3He. In the thin-glass experiments, the gas pressure was varied from 1 to 25 atm to scan the ion-mean-free path in the plasma at shock burn. The observed nuclear yields and temperatures deviated more strongly from hydrodynamic predictions as the ion-mean-free path increased to the order of the plasma size. This result provides the first direct experimental evidence how kinetic effects impact yields and ion temperature. The ratio of D to 3He was also varied while maintaining the fuel mass density. As the D fraction was reduced, the DD and D3He fusion products displayed an anomalous yield reduction. Separation of the D and 3He ion species across the strong (Mach ~10) shock-front will be discussed as the likely cause of this result. Finally, thin-CD shells filled with 3He produced significantly more D3He-protons when imploded than is explained by hydrodynamic mix models. This result suggests a kinetic form of mix dominates at the strongly-shocked shell-gas interface. This work was performed in collaboration with C. Li, M. Rosenberg, A. Zylstra, H. Sio, M. Gatu Johnson, F. Séguin, J. Frenje, and R. Petrasso (MIT), V. Glebov, C. Stoeckl, J. Delettrez, and C. Sangster (LLE), J. Pino, P. Amendt, C. Bellei, and S. Wilks (LLNL), G. Kagan, N. Hoffmann and K. Molvig (LANL), and A. Nikroo (GA) and was supported in part by the NLUF, FSC/UR, U.S. DOE, LLNL and LLE.

  20. Determination of myopes' visual acuity using stimuli with different contrast

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ikaunieks, G.; Caure, E.; Kassaliete, E.; Meskovska, Z.

    2012-10-01

    The influence of different contrast stimuli on the myopes’ visual acuity (VA) was studied using positive (35.7), negative (-0.97) and low contrast (-0.11) Landolt optotypes. Test subjects were 13 myopes with corrected eyesight and 8 emmetropes, all of them being 20-22 years old. For VA determination the FrACT computer program was employed. In the tests it was found that for emmetropes the positive and negative contrast VA values do not differ significantly, while for myopes the respective values are better with positive than with negative contrast stimuli. These differences were the same in the measurements taken with spectacles or contact lenses. Our results also show that the retinal straylight created by clean spectacles or soft contact lenses is similar in both cases. Dažu autoru pētījumi rāda, ka miopijas gadījumā redzes asums ir labāks ar pozitīva Vēbera kontrasta stimuliem (balts stimuls uz melna fona) nekā negatīva kontrasta stimuliem (melns stimuls uz balta fona). Šis fenomens tiek saistītas ar neirālām izmaiņām ON un OFF ceļos un miopiskās acīs. Citi pētījumi rāda, ka arī acī izkliedētās gaismas ietekmē labāks redzes asums ir ar pozitīviem kontrasta stimuliem nekā negatīva. Miopijas gadījumā papildus gaismas izkliedi rada briļļu lēcas vai kontaktlēcas. Mēs savā pētījumā vēlējāmies noskaidrot, cik lielā mērā labāks redzes asums ar pozitīva kontrasta stimuliem miopiskās acīs ir saistāms ar optiskās korekcijas radīto gaismas izkliedi. Pētījumā piedalījās 21 dalībnieks - 8 emetropi un 13 miopi ar sfērisko refrakcijas lielumu no -1.25 līdz -6,25 D. Dalībnieku vecums bija no 20 līdz 22 gadi. Izmantojot FrACT datorprogrammu, tika noteiks monokulārais redzes asums VA ar Landolta gredzeniem pie pozitīva, negatīva un zema kontrasta fotopiskos apstākļos. Vēbera kontrasti stimuliem attiecīgi bija 35.7, -0.97 un -0.11. Miopiem mērījumi tika veikti gan ar brillēm, gan kontaktlēcām. Emetropiem redzes asums pie pozitīva un negatīva kontrasta nav būtiski atšķirīgs, savukārt koriģētiem miopiem redzes asums bija labāks ar pozitīva nekā ar negatīva kontrasta stimuliem. Starpība mērījumos, veiktos ar kontaktlēcām, gan brillēm, nebija būtiski atšķirīga. No iegūtajiem rezultātiem var secināt, ka briļļu lēcas un kontaktlēcas rada līdzīgu acī 'noklīdušās” gaismas daudzumu.

  1. Evaluation of the Terminal Area Precision Scheduling and Spacing System for Performance-Based Navigation Arrivals

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jung, Jaewoo; Swenson, Harry; Thipphavong, Jane; Martin, Lynne Hazel; Chen, Liang; Nguyen, Jimmy

    2013-01-01

    The growth of global demand for air transportation has put increasing strain on the nation's air traffic management system. To relieve this strain, the International Civil Aviation Organization has urged all nations to adopt Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), which can help to reduce air traffic congestion, decrease aviation fuel consumption, and protect the environment. NASA has developed a Terminal Area Precision Scheduling and Spacing (TAPSS) system that can support increased use of PBN during periods of high traffic, while supporting fuel-efficient, continuous descent approaches. In the original development of this system, arrival aircraft are assigned fuel-efficient Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Terminal Arrival Routes before their initial descent from cruise, with routing defined to a specific runway. The system also determines precise schedules for these aircraft that facilitate continuous descent through the assigned routes. To meet these schedules, controllers are given a set of advisory tools to precisely control aircraft. The TAPSS system has been evaluated in a series of human-in-the-loop (HITL) air traffic simulations during 2010 and 2011. Results indicated increased airport arrival throughput up to 10 over current operations, and maintained fuel-efficient aircraft decent profiles from the initial descent to landing with reduced controller workload. This paper focuses on results from a joint NASA and FAA HITL simulation conducted in 2012. Due to the FAA rollout of the advance terminal area PBN procedures at mid-sized airports first, the TAPSS system was modified to manage arrival aircraft as they entered Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). Dallas-Love Field airport (DAL) was selected by the FAA as a representative mid-sized airport within a constrained TRACON airspace due to the close proximity of a major airport, in this case Dallas-Ft Worth International Airport, one of the busiest in the world. To address this constraint, RNAV routes and Required Navigation Performance with the particular capability known as Radius-to-Fix (RNP-RF) approaches to a short final were used. The purpose of this simulation was to get feedback on how current operations could benefit with the TAPSS system and also to evaluate the efficacy of the advisory tools to support the broader use of PBN in the US National Airspace System. For this NASA-FAA joint experiment, an Air Traffic Control laboratory at NASA Ames was arranged to simulate arrivals into DAL in Instrument Meteorological Conditions utilizing parallel dependent approaches, with two feeder positions that handed off traffic to one final position. Four FAA controllers participated, alternately covering these three positions. All participants were Full-Performance Level terminal controllers and members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. During the simulation, PBN arrival operations were compared and contrasted in three conditions. They were the Baseline, where none of the TAPSS systems TRACON controller decision support advisories were provided, the Limited Advisories, reflecting the existing but dormant capabilities of the current terminal automation equipment with providing a subset of the TAPSS systems advisories; numerical delay, landing sequence, and runway assignment information, and the Full Advisories, with providing the following in addition to the ones in the Limited condition; trajectory slot markers, timelines of estimated times of arrivals and sched

  2. Kinetics of dissolution of sapphire in melts in the CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shaw, Cliff S. J.; Klausen, Kim B.; Mao, Huahai

    2018-05-01

    The dissolution rate of sapphire in melts in the CAS system of varying silica activity, viscosity and degree of alumina saturation has been determined at 1600 °C and 1.5 GPa. After an initiation period of up to 1800 s, dissolution is controlled by diffusion of cations through the boundary layer adjacent to the dissolving sapphire. The dissolution rate decreases with increasing silica activity, viscosity and molar Al2O3/CaO. The calculated diffusion matrix for each solvent melt shows that CAS 1 and 9 which have molar Al2O3/CaO of 0.33 and 0.6 and dissolution rate constants of 0.65 × 10-6 and 0.59 × 10-6 m/s0.5 have similar directions and magnitudes of diffusive coupling: DCaO-Al2O3 and DAl2O3-CaO are both negative are approximately equal. The solvent with the fastest dissolution rate: CAS 4, which has a rate constant of 1.5 × 10-6 m/s0.5 and Al2O3/CaO of 0.31 has positive DCaO-Al2O3 and negative DAl2O3-CaO and the absolute values vary by a factor of 4. Although many studies show that aluminium is added to the melts via the reaction: Si4+ =Al3+ + 0.5Ca2+ the compositional profiles show that this reaction is not the only one involved in accommodating the aluminium added during sapphire dissolution. Rather, aluminium is incorporated as both tetrahedrally coordinated Al charge balanced by Ca and as aluminium not charge balanced by Ca (termed Alxs). This reaction: AlIV -Ca =Alxs +CaNBO where CaNBO is a non-bridging oxygen associated with calcium, may involve the formation of aluminium triclusters. The shape of the compositional profiles and oxide-oxide composition paths is controlled by the aluminium addition reaction. When Alxs exceeds 2%, CaO diffusion becomes increasingly anomalous and since the bond strength of Alxs correlates with CaO/CaO + Al2O3, the presence of more than 2% Alxs leads to significantly slower dissolution than when Alxs is absent or at low concentration. Thus, dissolution is controlled by diffusion of cations through the boundary layer, but this diffusion is itself controlled by the structural modifications required by the addition of new components to the melt. Comparison of quartz dissolution rates in similar melts shows that dissolution is much faster for quartz than for sapphire and that dissolution rates show the same correlation with silica activity and viscosity. We suggest that diffusive fluxes are related to changes in melt structure and the nature of the reaction that incorporates the added component. For the slow eigendirection, SiO2 addition occurs by a single reaction whereas Al2O3 addition requires a more complex two part reaction in which Al is accommodated by charge balance with Ca until Al is in excess of that which can be charge balanced. The Alxs incorporation reaction, is slower than the Si incorporation reaction which inhibits sapphire dissolution relative to quartz in melts of the same composition.

  3. [Atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons near plants of crude oil first treatment].

    PubMed

    Bustaffa, Elisa; De Marinis Loiotile, Annamaria; Farella, Genoveffa; Petraccone, Stefania; De Gennaro, Gianluigi; Bianchi, Fabrizio

    2016-01-01

    La continua espansione delle attività di perforazione ai fini dell'estrazione petrolifera in prossimità di aree abitate ha fatto sì che negli ultimi anni l'attenzione si focalizzasse sull'impatto di questo processo fortemente industrializzato sulla salute pubblica. Le comunità che vivono nei dintorni di impianti di questo tipo devono, infatti, fronteggiare diversi problemi, quali l'inquinamento atmosferico e acustico, la contaminazione del suolo e delle acque sotterranee, il traffico dei camion da e verso il sito, incidenti e malfunzionamenti all'interno dell'impianto. In questo contesto, la valutazione del rischio per la salute è ostacolata dal fatto che l'esposizione alle sostanze chimiche presenti non può essere valutata in via definitiva, poiché non sempre si è a conoscenza di tutti i composti immessi nell'ambiente né delle loro concentrazioni, per non parlare del problema delle coesposizioni ad altri inquinanti. Nonostante l'oramai conclamato e vasto interesse generato da questo argomento, ad oggi esistono pochi studi basati su popolazioni riguardanti gli effetti sulla salute delle comunità che vivono in prossimità dei siti di perforazione ed estrazione; ciò genera la necessità di condurre campagne di monitoraggio mirate e studi epidemiologici che verifichino l'eventuale esistenza e natura di pattern di malattie associati a tali attività. La presente rassegna bibliografica individua, quindi, i principali inquinanti atmosferici presenti in prossimità di un impianto di primo trattamento del greggio e cerca di fornire un quadro generale delle loro potenziali sorgenti e caratteristiche.

  4. The ethnophysiology of digestion and diarrhoea in a Bangladeshi hospital population.

    PubMed

    Zeitlyn, S; Rowshan, R; Mahalanabis, D; Faruque, A

    1993-12-01

    The results presented in this paper are drawn from a study of the acceptability of the weaning food, ARGC. The study aimed to investigate attitudes and practices surrounding weaning and the dietary management of diarrhoea. One hundred and twenty mothers of children aged between six months and 24 months suffering from mild diarrhoea and admitted to the ICDDR,B treatment centre were randomly selected. Diarrhoea was attributed by mothers to a number of causes; most common were contaminated food and breastmilk. Breastmilk was understood to have been spoiled either by the mother's diet or mystical forces termed batash. Batash was also suspected to directly making children sick in some instances. Thirty-six per cent of mothers attempted to manage diarrhoea at home by withholding normal foods from their children's diets and others modified their own diets. Less than a quarter of the children were normally fed vegetables, dal (lentils) or small fish. It appeared that fish was rarely given to young children and was regarded with some ambivalence and considered potentially attractive as a vehicle for malign forces that might attack young children and their mothers and cause illness. People were unwilling to feed their children fish and other items of the normal family diet because of notions about the digestive system and the concept of "digestive power" and the idea that young children did not have the digestive power to digest certain foods. It was suggested that early weaning might lead to poor and abnormal growth and development.

  5. Evaluating a NoSQL Alternative for Chilean Virtual Observatory Services

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Antognini, J.; Araya, M.; Solar, M.; Valenzuela, C.; Lira, F.

    2015-09-01

    Currently, the standards and protocols for data access in the Virtual Observatory architecture (DAL) are generally implemented with relational databases based on SQL. In particular, the Astronomical Data Query Language (ADQL), language used by IVOA to represent queries to VO services, was created to satisfy the different data access protocols, such as Simple Cone Search. ADQL is based in SQL92, and has extra functionality implemented using PgSphere. An emergent alternative to SQL are the so called NoSQL databases, which can be classified in several categories such as Column, Document, Key-Value, Graph, Object, etc.; each one recommended for different scenarios. Within their notable characteristics we can find: schema-free, easy replication support, simple API, Big Data, etc. The Chilean Virtual Observatory (ChiVO) is developing a functional prototype based on the IVOA architecture, with the following relevant factors: Performance, Scalability, Flexibility, Complexity, and Functionality. Currently, it's very difficult to compare these factors, due to a lack of alternatives. The objective of this paper is to compare NoSQL alternatives with SQL through the implementation of a Web API REST that satisfies ChiVO's needs: a SESAME-style name resolver for the data from ALMA. Therefore, we propose a test scenario by configuring a NoSQL database with data from different sources and evaluating the feasibility of creating a Simple Cone Search service and its performance. This comparison will allow to pave the way for the application of Big Data databases in the Virtual Observatory.

  6. Partial cross sections of helium satellites at medium photon energies

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wehlitz, R.; Sellin, I.A.; Hemmers, O.

    1997-04-01

    Still of current interest is the important role of single ionization with excitation compared to single ionization alone. The coupling between the electrons and the incoming photon is a single-particle operator. Thus, an excitation in addition to an ionization, leading to a so-called satellite line in a photoelectron spectrum, is entirely due to electron-electron interaction and probes the electron correlation in the ground and final state. Therefore the authors have undertaken the study of the intensity of helium satellites He{sup +}nl (n = 2 - 6) relative to the main photoline (n = 1) as a function of photon energymore » at photon energies well above threshold up to 900 eV. From these results they could calculate the partial cross-sections of the helium satellites. In order to test the consistency of their satellite-to-1s ratios with published double-to-single photoionization ratios, the authors calculated the double-to-single photoionization ratio from their measured ratios using the theoretical energy-distribution curves of Chang and Poe and Le Rouzo and Dal Cappello which proved to be valid for photon energies below 120 eV. These calculated double-to-single ionization ratios agree fairly well with recent ion measurements. In the lower photon energy range the authors ratios agree better with the ratios of Doerner et al. while for higher photon energies the agreement is better with the values of Levin et al.« less

  7. Heart in anatomy history, radiology, anthropology and art.

    PubMed

    Marinković, S; Lazić, D; Kanjuh, V; Valjarević, S; Tomić, I; Aksić, M; Starčević, A

    2014-05-01

    Anthropologic, artistic and medical significance of heart inspired usto undertake this multidisciplinary study. Amongst the 24 obtained echocardiograms and phonograms, 1 was used for a Photoshop processing. In addition, over 20,000 art work reproductions were examined in this study. Artistic and symbolic presentation of heart started some 15,000 years ago. First heart models were made by the Egyptian and Olmec civilisations. Ancient cultures regarded heart as the seat of the soul, spirit and intelligence. First anatomical and artistic images of heart were created by Leonardo da Vinci in the15th century, and first wax models by the Italian anatomists in the 17th century. Mediaeval religious symbolism of heart was replaced in the Renaissance and later on mainly by its role in the romantic love. Anatomical heart art continued in the 18th and 19th centuries through the works of Sénac, Cloquet, Hirschfeldand Bourgery. Some modern artists, such as Dalí, Kahlo, Rivera, Warhol, Ivanjicki, Vital, Kober and Mastrlova, created the anatomical heart images or sculptures, whereas some others, such as Duchamp, Klee, Miró, Matisse and Dine, presented heart symbol in their artworks. New radiologic technologies produce fine images of heart, some of which are similar to the works of modern artists. Heart biology and symbolism have had a tremendous influence on our culture, including art and medical sciences. New radiologic techniques and computer technology have produced such images of heart, which substantially improved diagnosis, but also enhanced the heart aesthetics.

  8. Interaction between repressor Opi1p and ER membrane protein Scs2p facilitates transit of phosphatidic acid from the ER to mitochondria and is essential for INO1 gene expression in the presence of choline

    PubMed Central

    Gaspar, Maria L.; Chang, Yu-Fang; Jesch, Stephen A.; Aregullin, Manuel; Henry, Susan A.

    2017-01-01

    In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Opi1p repressor controls the expression of INO1 via the Opi1p/Ino2p–Ino4p regulatory circuit. Inositol depletion favors Opi1p interaction with both Scs2p and phosphatidic acid at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Inositol supplementation, however, favors the translocation of Opi1p from the ER into the nucleus, where it interacts with the Ino2p–Ino4p complex, attenuating transcription of INO1. A strain devoid of Scs2p (scs2Δ) and a mutant, OPI1FFAT, lacking the ability to interact with Scs2p were utilized to examine the specific role(s) of the Opi1p–Scs2p interaction in the regulation of INO1 expression and overall lipid metabolism. Loss of the Opi1p–Scs2p interaction reduced INO1 expression and conferred inositol auxotrophy. Moreover, inositol depletion in strains lacking this interaction resulted in Opi1p being localized to sites of lipid droplet formation, coincident with increased synthesis of triacylglycerol. Supplementation of choline to inositol-depleted growth medium led to decreased TAG synthesis in all three strains. However, in strains lacking the Opi1p–Scs2p interaction, Opi1p remained in the nucleus, preventing expression of INO1. These data support the conclusion that a specific pool of phosphatidic acid, associated with lipid droplet formation in the perinuclear ER, is responsible for the initial rapid exit of Opi1p from the nucleus to the ER and is required for INO1 expression in the presence of choline. Moreover, the mitochondria-specific phospholipid, cardiolipin, was significantly reduced in both strains compromised for Opi1p–Scs2p interaction, indicating that this interaction is required for the transfer of phosphatidic acid from the ER to the mitochondria for cardiolipin synthesis. PMID:28924045

  9. The STAR Data Reporting Guidelines for Clinical High Altitude Research.

    PubMed

    Brodmann Maeder, Monika; Brugger, Hermann; Pun, Matiram; Strapazzon, Giacomo; Dal Cappello, Tomas; Maggiorini, Marco; Hackett, Peter; Bärtsch, Peter; Swenson, Erik R; Zafren, Ken

    2018-03-01

    Brodmann Maeder, Monika, Hermann Brugger, Matiram Pun, Giacomo Strapazzon, Tomas Dal Cappello, Marco Maggiorini, Peter Hackett, Peter Baärtsch, Erik R. Swenson, Ken Zafren (STAR Core Group), and the STAR Delphi Expert Group. The STARdata reporting guidelines for clinical high altitude research. High AltMedBiol. 19:7-14, 2018. The goal of the STAR (STrengthening Altitude Research) initiative was to produce a uniform set of key elements for research and reporting in clinical high-altitude (HA) medicine. The STAR initiative was inspired by research on treatment of cardiac arrest, in which the establishment of the Utstein Style, a uniform data reporting protocol, substantially contributed to improving data reporting and subsequently the quality of scientific evidence. The STAR core group used the Delphi method, in which a group of experts reaches a consensus over multiple rounds using a formal method. We selected experts in the field of clinical HA medicine based on their scientific credentials and identified an initial set of parameters for evaluation by the experts. Of 51 experts in HA research who were identified initially, 21 experts completed both rounds. The experts identified 42 key parameters in 5 categories (setting, individual factors, acute mountain sickness and HA cerebral edema, HA pulmonary edema, and treatment) that were considered essential for research and reporting in clinical HA research. An additional 47 supplemental parameters were identified that should be reported depending on the nature of the research. The STAR initiative, using the Delphi method, identified a set of key parameters essential for research and reporting in clinical HA medicine.

  10. A Network for Standardized Ocean Color Validation Measurements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zibordi, Giuseppe; Holben, Brent; Hooker, Stanford; Melin, Frederic; Berthon, Jean-Francois; Slutsker, Ilya; Giles, David; Vandemark, Doug; Feng, Hui; Rutledge, Ken; hide

    2006-01-01

    The Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) was developed to support atmospheric studies at various scales with measurements from worldwide distributed autonomous sunphotometers [Holben et al. 1998]. AERONET has now extended its support to marine applications through the additional capability of measuring the radiance emerging from the sea with modified sun-photometers installed on offshore platforms like lighthouses, navigation aids, oceanographic and oil towers. The functionality of this added network component called AERONET - Ocean Color (AERONET-OC), has been verified at different sites and deployment structures over a four year testing phase. Continuous or occasional deployment platforms (see Fig. 1) included: the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower (AAOT) of the Italian National Research Council in the northern Adriatic Sea since spring 2002; the Martha s Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO) tower of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the Atlantic off the Massachusetts coast for different periods since spring 2004; the TOTAL Abu-Al-Bukhoosh oil Platform (AABP, shown through an artistic rendition in Fig. 1) in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf in fall 2004; the Gustaf Dal n Lighthouse Tower (GDLT) of the Swedish Maritime Administration in the Baltic Sea in summer 2005; and the platform at the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Ocean Validation Experiment (COVE) site located in the Atlantic Ocean off the Virginia coast since fall 2005. Data collected during the network testing phase, confirm the capability of AERONET-OC to support the validation of marine optical remote sensing products through standardized measurements of normalized water-leaving radiance, LWN, and aerosol optical thickness, a, at multiple coastal sites.

  11. Measures of phylogenetic differentiation provide robust and complementary insights into microbial communities.

    PubMed

    Parks, Donovan H; Beiko, Robert G

    2013-01-01

    High-throughput sequencing techniques have made large-scale spatial and temporal surveys of microbial communities routine. Gaining insight into microbial diversity requires methods for effectively analyzing and visualizing these extensive data sets. Phylogenetic β-diversity measures address this challenge by allowing the relationship between large numbers of environmental samples to be explored using standard multivariate analysis techniques. Despite the success and widespread use of phylogenetic β-diversity measures, an extensive comparative analysis of these measures has not been performed. Here, we compare 39 measures of phylogenetic β diversity in order to establish the relative similarity of these measures along with key properties and performance characteristics. While many measures are highly correlated, those commonly used within microbial ecology were found to be distinct from those popular within classical ecology, and from the recently recommended Gower and Canberra measures. Many of the measures are surprisingly robust to different rootings of the gene tree, the choice of similarity threshold used to define operational taxonomic units, and the presence of outlying basal lineages. Measures differ considerably in their sensitivity to rare organisms, and the effectiveness of measures can vary substantially under alternative models of differentiation. Consequently, the depth of sequencing required to reveal underlying patterns of relationships between environmental samples depends on the selected measure. Our results demonstrate that using complementary measures of phylogenetic β diversity can further our understanding of how communities are phylogenetically differentiated. Open-source software implementing the phylogenetic β-diversity measures evaluated in this manuscript is available at http://kiwi.cs.dal.ca/Software/ExpressBetaDiversity.

  12. An innovative coupling between column leaching and oxygen consumption tests to assess behavior of contaminated marine dredged sediments.

    PubMed

    Couvidat, Julien; Benzaazoua, Mostafa; Chatain, Vincent; Zhang, Fan; Bouzahzah, Hassan

    2015-07-01

    Contaminated dredged sediments are often considered hazardous wastes, so they have to be adequately managed to avoid leaching of pollutants. The mobility of inorganic contaminants is a major concern. Metal sulfides (mainly framboïdal pyrite, copper, and zinc sulfides) have been investigated in this study as an important reactive metal-bearing phase sensitive to atmospheric oxygen action. An oxygen consumption test (OC-Test) has been adapted to assess the reactivity of dredged sediments when exposed to atmospheric oxygen. An experimental column set-up has been developed allowing the coupling between leaching and oxygen consumption test to investigate the reactivity of the sediment. This reactivity, which consisted of sulfide oxidation, was found to occur for saturation degree between 60 and 90 % and until the 20th testing week, through significant sulfates releases. These latter were assumed to come from sulfide oxidation in the first step of the test, then probably from gypsum dissolution. Confrontation results of OC-Test and leachate quality shows that Cu was well correlated to sulfates releases, which in turn, leads to Ca and Mg dissolution (buffer effect). Cu, and mostly Zn, was associated to organic matter, phyllosilicates, and other minerals through organo-clay complexes. This research confirmed that the OC-Test, originally developed for mine tailings, could be a useful tool in the dredged sediment field which can allow for intrinsic characterization of reactivity of a material suspected to readily reacting with oxygen and for better understanding of geochemical processes that affect pollutants behavior, conversion, and transfer in the environment.

  13. Evaluation of procoagulant tissue factor expression in canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines.

    PubMed

    Witter, Lauren E; Gruber, Erika J; Lean, Fabian Z X; Stokol, Tracy

    2017-01-01

    OBJECTIVE To evaluate expression of procoagulant tissue factor (TF) by canine hemangiosarcoma cells in vitro. SAMPLES 4 canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines (SB-HSA [mouse-passaged cutaneous tumor], Emma [primary metastatic brain tumor], and Frog and Dal-1 [primary splenic tumors]) and 1 nonneoplastic canine endothelial cell line (CnAoEC). PROCEDURES TF mRNA and TF antigen expression were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Thrombin generation was measured in canine plasma and in coagulation factor-replete or specific coagulation factor-deficient human plasma by calibrated automated thrombography. Corn trypsin inhibitor and annexin V were used to examine contributions of contact activation and membrane-bound phosphatidylserine, respectively, to thrombin generation. RESULTS All cell lines expressed TF mRNA and antigen, with significantly greater expression of both products in SB-HSA and Emma cells than in CnAoEC. A greater percentage of SB-HSA cells expressed TF antigen, compared with other hemangiosarcoma cell lines. All hemangiosarcoma cell lines generated significantly more thrombin than did CnAoEC in canine or factor-replete human plasma. Thrombin generation induced by SB-HSA cells was significantly lower in factor VII-deficient plasma than in factor-replete plasma and was abolished in factor X-deficient plasma; residual thrombin generation in factor VII-deficient plasma was abolished by incubation of cells with annexin V. Thrombin generation by SB-HSA cells was unaffected by the addition of corn trypsin inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Hemangiosarcoma cell lines expressed procoagulant TF in vitro. Further research is needed to determine whether TF can be used as a biomarker for hemostatic dysfunction in dogs with hemangiosarcoma.

  14. Evaluation of procoagulant tissue factor expression in canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines

    PubMed Central

    Witter, Lauren E.; Gruber, Erika J.; Lean, Fabian Z. X.; Stokol, Tracy

    2017-01-01

    OBJECTIVE To evaluate expression of procoagulant tissue factor (TF) by canine hemangiosarcoma cells in vitro. SAMPLES 4 canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines (SB-HSA [mouse-passaged cutaneous tumor], Emma [primary metastatic brain tumor], and Frog and Dal-1 [primary splenic tumors]) and 1 nonneoplastic canine endothelial cell line (CnAoEC). PROCEDURES TF mRNA and TF antigen expression were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Thrombin generation was measured in canine plasma and in coagulation factor–replete or specific coagulation factor–deficient human plasma by calibrated automated thrombography. Corn trypsin inhibitor and annexin V were used to examine contributions of contact activation and membrane-bound phosphatidylserine, respectively, to thrombin generation. RESULTS All cell lines expressed TF mRNA and antigen, with significantly greater expression of both products in SB-HSA and Emma cells than in CnAoEC. A greater percentage of SB-HSA cells expressed TF antigen, compared with other hemangiosarcoma cell lines. All hemangiosarcoma cell lines generated significantly more thrombin than did CnAoEC in canine or factor-replete human plasma. Thrombin generation induced by SB-HSA cells was significantly lower in factor VII-deficient plasma than in factor-replete plasma and was abolished in factor X–deficient plasma; residual thrombin generation in FVII-deficient plasma was abolished by incubation of cells with annexin V. Thrombin generation by SB-HSA cells was unaffected by the addition of corn trypsin inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Hemangiosarcoma cell lines expressed procoagulant TF in vitro. Further research is needed to determine whether TF can be used as a biomarker for hemostatic dysfunction in dogs with hemangiosarcoma. PMID:28029283

  15. Calculation of The Ti Activity In 44 Chondrites Which Fell In The Last Two Centuries and Comparison With Measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonino, G.; Cane, D.; Cini Castagnoli, G.; Taricco, C.; Bhandari, N.

    The cosmogenic radioisotopes in meteorites, produced by nuclear interactions of the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) with the meteoroids in the interplanetary space are good proxies of both the GCR flux and the solar activity. Different cosmogenic radionu- clides with different half-lives give information over different time scales. Recently we have inferred the GCR annual mean spectra for the last 300 years [1]. The most prominent result concerns the cosmic ray flux during prolonged solar quiet periods. We deduced that during the Maunder minimum of solar acivity (1700), the Dal- ton minimum (1800) and the Modern minimum (1900) the GCR flux was much higher (2 times) respect to the flux observed in the last decades. Utilizing these GCR spectra we have calculated the 44 Ti (T1/2 = 59.2 y) activity in meteorites taking into account its exitation function for production from the main target element Fe, Ni and Ti [2]. Furthermore, in the last years we have measured the very low activity of the cosmogenic 44Ti in different fell chondrites and now our data cover the interval 1810 to present. The calculated 44Ti profile is in close agreement with the observed mea- surements. This result demonstrates that our inference of the GCR flux in the past 300 years is reliable. The cosmogenic 44Ti in meteorites is a unique tool, free from ter- restrial influences, for validation of both the GCR flux and the heliospheric behaviour over century time scale. [1] G. Bonino, G. Cini Castagnoli, D. Cane, C. Taricco and N. Bhandari, Proc. XXVII Intern. Cosmic Ray Conf. (Hamburg, 2001) 3769-3772. [2] R. Michel and S. Neumann (1998) Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. Earth Planet. Sci. , 107, 441-457.

  16. Regulators of pseudohyphal differentiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae identified through multicopy suppressor analysis in ammonium permease mutant strains.

    PubMed Central

    Lorenz, M C; Heitman, J

    1998-01-01

    Nitrogen-starved diploid cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae differentiate into a filamentous, pseudohyphal growth form. Recognition of nitrogen starvation is mediated, at least in part, by the ammonium permease Mep2p and the Galpha subunit Gpa2p. Genetic activation of the pheromone-responsive MAP kinase cascade, which is also required for filamentous growth, only weakly suppresses the filamentation defect of Deltamep2/Deltamep2 and Deltagpa2/Deltagpa2 strain. Surprisingly, deletion of Mep1p, an ammonium permease not previously thought to regulate differentiation, significantly enhances the potency of MAP kinase activation, such that the STE11-4 allele induces filamentation to near wild-type levels in Deltamep1/Deltamep1 Deltamep2/Deltamep2 and Deltamep1/Deltamep1 Deltagpa2/Deltagpa2 strains. To identify additional regulatory components, we isolated high-copy suppressors of the filamentation defect of the Deltamep1/Deltamep1 Deltamep2/Deltamep2 mutant. Multicopy expression of TEC1, PHD1, PHD2 (MSS10/MSN1/FUP4), MSN5, CDC6, MSS11, MGA1, SKN7, DOT6, HMS1, HMS2, or MEP2 each restored filamentation in a Deltamep1/Deltamep1 Deltamep2/Deltamep2 strain. Overexpression of SRK1 (SSD1), URE2, DAL80, MEP1, or MEP3 suppressed only the growth defect of the Deltamep1/Deltamep1 Deltamep2/Deltamep2 mutant strain. Characterization of these genes through deletion analysis and epistasis underscores the complexity of this developmental pathway and suggests that stress conditions other than nitrogen deprivation may also promote filamentous growth. PMID:9832522

  17. Aldosterone Does Not Predict Cardiovascular Events Following Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients Initially Without Heart Failure.

    PubMed

    Pitts, Reynaria; Gunzburger, Elise; Ballantyne, Christie M; Barter, Philip J; Kallend, David; Leiter, Lawrence A; Leitersdorf, Eran; Nicholls, Stephen J; Shah, Prediman K; Tardif, Jean-Claude; Olsson, Anders G; McMurray, John J V; Kittelson, John; Schwartz, Gregory G

    2017-01-10

    Aldosterone may have adverse effects in the myocardium and vasculature. Treatment with an aldosterone antagonist reduces cardiovascular risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure (HF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. However, most patients with acute coronary syndrome do not have advanced HF. Among such patients, it is unknown whether aldosterone predicts cardiovascular risk. To address this question, we examined data from the dal-OUTCOMES trial that compared the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor dalcetrapib with placebo, beginning 4 to 12 weeks after an index acute coronary syndrome. Patients with New York Heart Association class II (with LVEF <40%), III, or IV HF were excluded. Aldosterone was measured at randomization in 4073 patients. The primary outcome was a composite of coronary heart disease death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or resuscitated cardiac arrest. Hospitalization for HF was a secondary endpoint. Over a median follow-up of 37 months, the primary outcome occurred in 366 patients (9.0%), and hospitalization for HF occurred in 72 patients (1.8%). There was no association between aldosterone and either the time to first occurrence of a primary outcome (hazard ratio for doubling of aldosterone 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.78-1.09, P=0.34) or hospitalization for HF (hazard ratio 1.38, 95% CI 0.96-1.99, P=0.08) in Cox regression models adjusted for covariates. In patients with recent acute coronary syndrome but without advanced HF, aldosterone does not predict major cardiovascular events. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00658515. © 2017 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

  18. Prevalence of dog erythrocyte antigens in retired racing Greyhounds.

    PubMed

    Iazbik, Maria Cristina; O'Donnell, Margee; Marin, Liliana; Zaldivar, Sara; Hudson, Dawn; Couto, C Guillermo

    2010-12-01

    Blood groups in dogs are designated as dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and Dal. There is limited information about the frequency of different antigens in Greyhound dogs, despite their frequent use as blood donors. The aims of this study were to determine the frequencies of DEA 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 in Greyhounds, to compare the frequencies with those of non-Greyhound dogs, and to evaluate the presence of naturally occurring anti-DEA antibodies. Blood was collected from 206 Greyhound and 66 non-Greyhound dogs being screened as potential blood donors. Blood-typing was performed at Animal Blood Resources International by tube agglutination utilizing polyclonal anti-DEA antibodies. Of the Greyhound dogs, 27/206 (13.1%) were positive for DEA 1.1, and this frequency was significantly lower (P<.0001) than for non-Greyhound dogs of which 40/66 (60.6%) were DEA 1.1-positive. The frequency of positivity for both DEA 1.1 and 1.2 was also lower in Greyhounds (P<.0001). There were no significant differences between Greyhounds and non-Greyhounds for DEA 1.2, 3, 4, 5, or 7. All 137 dogs (113 Greyhounds and 24 non-Greyhounds) that were evaluated for naturally occurring anti-DEA antibodies in serum were negative. A higher percentage of Greyhound dogs (57.3%, 118/206) were considered "universal donors" (negative for all DEAs except DEA 4) compared with non-Greyhound dogs (28%, 13/46). The frequency of positivity for DEA 1.1 in our population of Greyhounds was significantly lower than previously reported for dogs. Furthermore, a large majority of Greyhounds met the criteria for universal donors. ©2010 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

  19. [Effectiveness of school-based interventions to prevent traffic accidents: an overview of secondary literature].

    PubMed

    Guerriero, Chiara; Verdina, Federico; Ferri, Chiara; Pizzaguerra, Martina; Silvestri, Silvia; Tober, Nastassja; Ristagno, Quenya; Costa, Alessandro; Cerasuolo, Michele; Faggiano, Fabrizio; Allara, Elias

    2016-01-01

    INTRODUZIONE: gli incidenti stradali sono l'ottava causa di morte al mondo e la prima tra i giovani di 15-29 anni. In Italia il Piano nazionale sicurezza stradale raccomanda l'educazione scolastica per la prevenzione degli incidenti stradali; ad oggi non esistono documenti che raccolgano evidenze di efficacia sugli interventi educativi stradali e le rapportino al contesto italiano. OBIETTIVI: riassumere e discutere ciò che è noto in letteratura riguardo agli interventi scolastici per la prevenzione degli incidenti stradali. METODI: sono state ricercate linee guida e revisioni sistematiche usando i seguenti criteri di inclusione: popolazione di età inferiore ai 25 anni di entrambi i sessi; interventi scolastici di educazione stradale; effetti su indicatori primari di esito come riduzione degli incidenti stradali, astinenza dalla guida sotto l'effetto di alcol e dall'accettare passaggi in macchina da guidatori che sono sotto l'effetto di alcol; effetti su indicatori secondari di esito come conoscenze e competenze sui comportamenti di guida sicura. RISULTATI: sono state identificate due revisioni sistematiche. L'educazione stradale nelle scuole non mostra evidenza di efficacia (rischio relativo 1,03; IC95% 0,98-1,08) nel ridurre gli incidenti. Programmi scolastici più specifici mostrano risultati solo in parte convincenti per l'adozione di comportamenti sicuri come l'astinenza dal guidare sotto l'effetto di alcol e dall'accettare passaggi in macchina da guidatori che sono sotto l'effetto di alcol. DISCUSSIONE: le revisioni incluse non hanno trovato programmi efficaci nella riduzione degli incidenti stradali o dei fattori che possano determinarli. Nell'attesa di studi più recenti, appare opportuno promuovere l'implementazione di interventi misti, scolastici e di comunità, che hanno mostrato maggiori prove di efficacia.

  20. Derivative effect of laser cladding on interface stability of YSZ@Ni coating on GH4169 alloy: An experimental and theoretical study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Haizhong; Li, Bingtian; Tan, Yong; Li, Guifa; Shu, Xiaoyong; Peng, Ping

    2018-01-01

    Yttria-stabilized zirconia YSZ@Ni core-shell nanoparticles were used to prepare a thermal barrier coating (TBC) on a GH4169 alloy by laser cladding. Microstructural analysis showed that the TBC was composed of two parts: a ceramic and a bonding layer. In places where the ZrO2/Al2O3 eutectic structure was present in the ceramic layer, the Ni atoms diffused into the bonding layer, as confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The derivative effect of laser cladding results in the original YSZ@Ni core-shell nanoparticles being translated into the Al2O3 crystal, activating the YSZ. The mechanism of ceramic/metal interface cohesion was studied in depth via first-principles and molecular dynamics simulation. The results show that the trend in the diffusion coefficients of Ni, Fe, Al, and Ti is DNi > DFe > DTi > DAl in the melting or solidification process of the material. The enthalpy of formation for Al2O3 is less than that of TiO2, resulting in a thermally grown oxide (TGO) Al2O3 phase transformation. With regard to the electronic structure, the trend in Mulliken population is QO-Ni > QZr-O > QO-Al. Although the bonding is slightly weakened between ZrO2/Al2O3 (QZr-O = 0.158 < QO-Ni = 0.220) compared to that in ZrO2/Ni, TGO Al2O3 can improve the oxidation resistance of the metal matrix. Thus, by comparing the connective and diffusive processes, our findings lay the groundwork for detailed and comprehensive studies of the laser cladding process for the production of composite materials.

  1. APETALA2 like genes from Picea abies show functional similarities to their Arabidopsis homologues.

    PubMed

    Nilsson, Lars; Carlsbecker, Annelie; Sundås-Larsson, Annika; Vahala, Tiina

    2007-02-01

    In angiosperm flower development the identity of the floral organs is determined by the A, B and C factors. Here we present the characterisation of three homologues of the A class gene APETALA2 (AP2) from the conifer Picea abies (Norway spruce), Picea abies APETALA2 LIKE1 (PaAP2L1), PaAP2L2 and PaAP2L3. Similar to AP2 these genes contain sequence motifs complementary to miRNA172 that has been shown to regulate AP2 in Arabidopsis. The genes display distinct expression patterns during plant development; in the female-cone bud PaAP2L1 and PaAP2L3 are expressed in the seed-bearing ovuliferous scale in a pattern complementary to each other, and overlapping with the expression of the C class-related gene DAL2. To study the function of PaAP2L1 and PaAP2L2 the genes were expressed in Arabidopsis. The transgenic PaAP2L2 plants were stunted and flowered later than control plants. Flowers were indeterminate and produced an excess of floral organs most severely in the two inner whorls, associated with an ectopic expression of the meristem-regulating gene WUSCHEL. No homeotic changes in floral-organ identities occurred, but in the ap2-1 mutant background PaAP2L2 was able to promote petal identity, indicating that the spruce AP2 gene has the capacity to substitute for an A class gene in Arabidopsis. In spite of the long evolutionary distance between angiosperms and gymnosperms and the fact that gymnosperms lack structures homologous to sepals and petals our data supports a functional conservation of AP2 genes among the seed plants.

  2. GenGIS 2: Geospatial Analysis of Traditional and Genetic Biodiversity, with New Gradient Algorithms and an Extensible Plugin Framework

    PubMed Central

    Parks, Donovan H.; Mankowski, Timothy; Zangooei, Somayyeh; Porter, Michael S.; Armanini, David G.; Baird, Donald J.; Langille, Morgan G. I.; Beiko, Robert G.

    2013-01-01

    GenGIS is free and open source software designed to integrate biodiversity data with a digital map and information about geography and habitat. While originally developed with microbial community analyses and phylogeography in mind, GenGIS has been applied to a wide range of datasets. A key feature of GenGIS is the ability to test geographic axes that can correspond to routes of migration or gradients that influence community similarity. Here we introduce GenGIS version 2, which extends the linear gradient tests introduced in the first version to allow comprehensive testing of all possible linear geographic axes. GenGIS v2 also includes a new plugin framework that supports the development and use of graphically driven analysis packages: initial plugins include implementations of linear regression and the Mantel test, calculations of alpha-diversity (e.g., Shannon Index) for all samples, and geographic visualizations of dissimilarity matrices. We have also implemented a recently published method for biomonitoring reference condition analysis (RCA), which compares observed species richness and diversity to predicted values to determine whether a given site has been impacted. The newest version of GenGIS supports vector data in addition to raster files. We demonstrate the new features of GenGIS by performing a full gradient analysis of an Australian kangaroo apple data set, by using plugins and embedded statistical commands to analyze human microbiome sample data, and by applying RCA to a set of samples from Atlantic Canada. GenGIS release versions, tutorials and documentation are freely available at http://kiwi.cs.dal.ca/GenGIS, and source code is available at https://github.com/beiko-lab/gengis. PMID:23922841

  3. Incidence of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria spp. in a small-scale mushroom production facility.

    PubMed

    Viswanath, Prema; Murugesan, Latha; Knabel, Stephen J; Verghese, Bindhu; Chikthimmah, Naveen; Laborde, Luke F

    2013-04-01

    Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen of significant concern to the agricultural and food processing industry because of its ability to grow and persist in cool and moist environments and its association with listeriosis, a disease with a very high mortality rate. Although there have been no listeriosis outbreaks attributed to fresh mushrooms in the United States, retail surveys and recalls are evidence that L. monocytogenes contamination of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) can occur. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp., including L. monocytogenes, in a small-scale mushroom production facility on the campus of the Pennsylvania State University in the United States. Of 184 samples taken from five production zones within the facility, 29 (15.8%) samples were positive for Listeria spp. Among the Listeria spp. isolates, L. innocua was most prevalent (10.3%) followed by L. welshimeri (3.3%), L. monocytogenes (1.6%), and L. grayi (0.5%). L. monocytogenes was recovered only from the phase I raw material composting area. Isolates of L. monocytogenes were confirmed and serotyped by multiplex PCR. The epidemiological relatedness of the three L. monocytogenes isolates to those serotypes or lineages frequently encountered in listeriosis infections was determined by multi-virulence-locus sequence typing using six virulence genes, namely, prfA, inlB, inlC, dal, clpP, and lisR. The phylogenetic positions of the three isolates in the dendrogram prepared with data from other isolates of L. monocytogenes showed that all isolates were grouped with serotype 4a, lineage IIIA. To date, this serotype has rarely been reported in foodborne disease outbreaks.

  4. Evolution of interprofessional learning: Dalhousie University's "From Family Violence to Health" module.

    PubMed

    Johnston, Grace M; Ryding, Helen A; Campbell, Lindsay M

    2003-11-01

    At Dalhousie University, interprofessional (IP) learning modules are used to help future health care professionals learn to work together in resolving complex problems. One module, "From Family Violence to Health," features the role of dental professionals. This paper describes the evolution of this module from the year 2000. By February 2003, 1,182 students from 15 health care professions had completed the module. Qualitative evaluation in years 1 and 2 of the program (2000 and 2001) revealed that, before participating in the IP module, many students were able to identify a role for themselves in the recognition of family violence and knew their responsibility to report incidents. However, after participating in the module, they had a greater understanding of the reporting of family violence, a more comprehensive and supportive perspective, increased recognition of how health care professionals could work together and improved awareness of the roles of other professions. In a quantitative evaluation in year 3 (2002), mean student ratings on a scale of 1 to 5 indicated that the IP module was relevant (4.2), increased their understanding of family violence (4.0), and had some impact in promoting IP learning (3.8). As health care delivery becomes more focused on care teams and system thinking, the provision of IP training is expected to increase. The Dalhousie University IP modules (available at http://www.dal.ca/~fhp/ipl/index.html) address health and social problems for which it is critical that health care and other professionals work together. Feedback from practitioners on the development of IP education is welcomed, particularly with regard to the IP module addressing family violence.

  5. Is Vertical Jump Height an Indicator of Athletes' Power Output in Different Sport Modalities?

    PubMed

    Kons, Rafael L; Ache-Dias, Jonathan; Detanico, Daniele; Barth, Jonathan; Dal Pupo, Juliano

    2018-03-01

    Kons, RL, Ache-Dias, J, Detanico, D, Barth, J, and Dal Pupo, J. Is vertical jump height an indicator of athletes' power output in different sports modalities? J Strength Cond Res 32(3): 708-715, 2018-This study aimed to identify whether the ratio standard is adequate for the scaling of peak power output (PPO) for body mass (BM) in athletes of different sports and to verify classification agreement for athletes involved in different sports using PPO scaled for BM and jump height (JH). One hundred and twenty-four male athletes divided into 3 different groups-combat sports, team sports, and runners-participated in this study. Participants performed the countermovement jump on a force plate. Peak power output and JH were calculated from the vertical ground reaction force. We found different allometric exponents for each modality, allowing the use of the ratio standard for team sports. For combat sports and runners, the ratio standard was not considered adequate, and therefore, a specific allometric exponent for these 2 groups was found. Significant correlations between adjusted PPO for BM (PPOADJ) and JH were found for all modalities, but it was higher for runners (r = 0.81) than team and combat sports (r = 0.63 and 0.65, respectively). Moderate agreement generated by the PPOADJ and JH was verified in team sports (k = 0.47) and running (k = 0.55) and fair agreement in combat sports (k = 0.29). We conclude that the ratio standard seems to be suitable only for team sports; for runners and combat sports, an allometric model seems adequate. The use of JH as an indicator of power output may be considered reasonable only for runners.

  6. The gold nuggets of the lower Pliocene Alhambra Formation (Betic Cordillera, Southern Spain)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Somma, Roberta; Bonvegna, Piero; Sanchez-Navas, Antonio

    2017-04-01

    The present research was devoted to the geochemical and textural characterization of gold nuggets extracted from auriferous siliciclastic deposits of the lower Pliocene continental Alhambra Formation (Betic Cordillera, Southern Spain). This Formation is mainly composed of metamorphic lithoclasts deriving both by the erosion of the Mulhacen Unit of the Nevado-Filabride Complex and the reworking of the upper Tortonian marine Dudar-Pinos Genil Formation, on its turn previously formed by erosion of the Veleta Unit of the Nevado-Filabride Complex. Particularly, the studied gold nuggets were separated from 1m3 of auriferous conglomerates sampled along the right side of the Genil River, in the abandoned Lancha de Cenes Mine, exploited since Roman time for gold mining. The recovered gold nuggets were 24 for a total weight of 0.125 g/m3. Textural analysis of gold nuggets was made by means mechanical sieving and visual comparison of roundness and form. They are sand-sized rounded to sub-rounded grains with spheroidal and cubic form. Surface analyses of the nuggets by SEM-EDS indicated that external portions show textures more porous than in the nuggets nuclei. Chemical analyses by EMPA indicated that they are constituted by pure gold with Ag and Hg as trace elements. The gold mine capacity of the studied auriferous deposits is at least of 0.125 g/m3 (lower than 0.5 g/m3; minimum value to be gold mine economically exploitable). Notwithstanding this value, the auriferous conglomerates of the Alhambra Formation reveal to be interesting under a gold mine exploitation point of view because of the gold high pureness degree. Finally, under a geological point of view, considering that the Alhambra Formation is mainly composed of lower Pliocene alluvial fan conglomerates and sandstones formed during the uplift of the Sierra Nevada, the selected gold nuggets are secondary deposits originally derived from primary deposits related to hydrothermal gold-bearing quartz veins included in the Nevado-Filabride schists. Being gold nuggets grains of a continental deposit, an eluvial origin is not excluded on the basis of the surface features but roundness and form, data indicating that nuggets were transported, suggest that eluvial nuggets underwent also a limited alluvial process.

  7. Poliomyelitis and its elimination in Cuba: an historical overview.

    PubMed

    Beldarraín, Enrique

    2013-04-01

    Polio was first detected in Cuba in the late 19th century among residents of the US community on the Isla de Pinos (Isle of Pines, now Isle of Youth), apparently introduced through migration from the USA. The first outbreak was reported in 1906 on the Isle, with the first epidemic reported in the former province of Las Villas in 1909. The epidemics subsequently intensified, by 1934 becoming periodic every four to five years, and accompanied by high morbidity, mortality and crippling sequelae, primarily among children. To review and analyze the history of polio and its control in Cuba, from the disease's first appearance in 1898 until WHO/PAHO certification of elimination in 1994. The historiological method was used; archival documents, medical records, and available polio morbidity and mortality statistics from the Ministry of Public Health's National Statistics Division before 1959 and from 1959 through 2000 were reviewed. Crude morbidity and mortality rates were calculated using population estimates at mid-period. Reports and scientific publications describing polio vaccination campaigns and their results were also reviewed, and key informants were interviewed. After initial introduction of polio in Cuba, five major epidemics occurred between 1932 and 1958: in 1934 (434 cases, 82 deaths); 1942 (494 cases, 58 deaths); 1946 (239 cases, 33 deaths), 1952 (492 cases, 15 deaths) and 1955 (267 cases, 8 deaths). Between 1957 and 1961 the disease's endemicity reached epidemic levels, with the last outbreak occurring in 1961, with 342 cases, 30% of them in children aged >4 years. In 1962, Cuba launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign, the first of annual campaigns thereafter carried out in the framework of a coherent national program aimed at polio elimination. Using the Sabin oral vaccine and targeting the entire pediatric population in a single time period, five million doses were administered in the first campaign, reaching 87.5% of the target population aged 1 month through 14 years, constituting 109.4% of planned coverage. Since that year, no deaths from polio have been recorded (there were ten cases between 1963 and 1989) and WHO/PAHO certified polio elimination in Cuba in 1994. Cuba controlled polio with effective vaccination strategies and appropriate epidemiological measures, in the context of social, financial and political support. KEYWORDS History, poliomyelitis, epidemiology, disease control, vaccination, Sabin vaccine, Cuba.

  8. Assessing potential changes of weather-related risk on chestnut productivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pereira, Mário; Calheiros, Tomas; Pinto, Joaquim; Caramelo, Liliana

    2013-04-01

    Weather conditions play an important role during different phases of the vegetative cycle of the chestnut trees and, consequently, several meteorological parameters seem to be associated chestnut productivity (Heiniger and Conedera, 1992, Cesaraccio et al., 2001, Wilczynski and Podalski, 2007, Gomes-Laranjo et al., 2008, Dinis et al., 2011, Pereira et al., 2011). Observed data from European Climate Assessment and simulated data by COSMO-CLM model for the actual (C20) and future (A1B and B1) climate scenarios were used in this study to: (i) assess the model ability to reproduce weather parameters distribution; and, (ii) to assess future changes in the distribution of meteorological parameters which play an important role in the productivity of chestnut for different future periods. Results points to statistical significant changes in the mean and in variance in the future, more prominent in temperature than in precipitation based parameters. Changes in precipitation will be more significant in Northwestern Iberian Peninsula and France in the end of the 21st century for A1B scenario conditions. As expected, more significant changes will be expected to occur during spring and summer, in the Mediterranean areas and in the later period. The number of days with Tmax<28°C will generally decrease in both scenarios, while the changes in the number of days with 24°C

  9. Long-Term Trends Worldwide in Ambient NO2 Concentrations Inferred from Satellite Observations.

    PubMed

    Geddes, Jeffrey A; Martin, Randall V; Boys, Brian L; van Donkelaar, Aaron

    2016-03-01

    Air pollution is associated with morbidity and premature mortality. Satellite remote sensing provides globally consistent decadal-scale observations of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution. We determined global population-weighted annual mean NO2 concentrations from 1996 through 2012. We used observations of NO2 tropospheric column densities from three satellite instruments in combination with chemical transport modeling to produce a global 17-year record of ground-level NO2 at 0.1° × 0.1° resolution. We calculated linear trends in population-weighted annual mean NO2 (PWMNO2) concentrations in different regions around the world. We found that PWMNO2 in high-income North America (Canada and the United States) decreased more steeply than in any other region, having declined at a rate of -4.7%/year [95% confidence interval (CI): -5.3, -4.1]. PWMNO2 decreased in western Europe at a rate of -2.5%/year (95% CI: -3.0, -2.1). The highest PWMNO2 occurred in high-income Asia Pacific (predominantly Japan and South Korea) in 1996, with a subsequent decrease of -2.1%/year (95% CI: -2.7, -1.5). In contrast, PWMNO2 almost tripled in East Asia (China, North Korea, and Taiwan) at a rate of 6.7%/year (95% CI: 6.0, 7.3). The satellite-derived estimates of trends in ground-level NO2 were consistent with regional trends inferred from data obtained from ground-station monitoring networks in North America (within 0.7%/year) and Europe (within 0.3%/year). Our rankings of regional average NO2 and long-term trends differed from the satellite-derived estimates of fine particulate matter reported elsewhere, demonstrating the utility of both indicators to describe changing pollutant mixtures. Long-term trends in satellite-derived ambient NO2 provide new information about changing global exposure to ambient air pollution. Our estimates are publicly available at http://fizz.phys.dal.ca/~atmos/martin/?page_id=232.

  10. The use of virtual reality to reimagine two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional spaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fath, Elaine

    2015-03-01

    A familiar realm in the world of two-dimensional art is the craft of taking a flat canvas and creating, through color, size, and perspective, the illusion of a three-dimensional space. Using well-explored tricks of logic and sight, impossible landscapes such as those by surrealists de Chirico or Salvador Dalí seem to be windows into new and incredible spaces which appear to be simultaneously feasible and utterly nonsensical. As real-time 3D imaging becomes increasingly prevalent as an artistic medium, this process takes on an additional layer of depth: no longer is two-dimensional space restricted to strategies of light, color, line and geometry to create the impression of a three-dimensional space. A digital interactive environment is a space laid out in three dimensions, allowing the user to explore impossible environments in a way that feels very real. In this project, surrealist two-dimensional art was researched and reimagined: what would stepping into a de Chirico or a Magritte look and feel like, if the depth and distance created by light and geometry were not simply single-perspective illusions, but fully formed and explorable spaces? 3D environment-building software is allowing us to step into these impossible spaces in ways that 2D representations leave us yearning for. This art project explores what we gain--and what gets left behind--when these impossible spaces become doors, rather than windows. Using sketching, Maya 3D rendering software, and the Unity Engine, surrealist art was reimagined as a fully navigable real-time digital environment. The surrealist movement and its key artists were researched for their use of color, geometry, texture, and space and how these elements contributed to their work as a whole, which often conveys feelings of unexpectedness or uneasiness. The end goal was to preserve these feelings while allowing the viewer to actively engage with the space.

  11. Temporal Expression Profiling Identifies Pathways Mediating Effect of Causal Variant on Phenotype

    PubMed Central

    Gupta, Saumya; Radhakrishnan, Aparna; Raharja-Liu, Pandu; Lin, Gen; Steinmetz, Lars M.; Gagneur, Julien; Sinha, Himanshu

    2015-01-01

    Even with identification of multiple causal genetic variants for common human diseases, understanding the molecular processes mediating the causal variants’ effect on the disease remains a challenge. This understanding is crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat disease. While static profiling of gene expression is primarily used to get insights into the biological bases of diseases, it makes differentiating the causative from the correlative effects difficult, as the dynamics of the underlying biological processes are not monitored. Using yeast as a model, we studied genome-wide gene expression dynamics in the presence of a causal variant as the sole genetic determinant, and performed allele-specific functional validation to delineate the causal effects of the genetic variant on the phenotype. Here, we characterized the precise genetic effects of a functional MKT1 allelic variant in sporulation efficiency variation. A mathematical model describing meiotic landmark events and conditional activation of MKT1 expression during sporulation specified an early meiotic role of this variant. By analyzing the early meiotic genome-wide transcriptional response, we demonstrate an MKT1-dependent role of novel modulators, namely, RTG1/3, regulators of mitochondrial retrograde signaling, and DAL82, regulator of nitrogen starvation, in additively effecting sporulation efficiency. In the presence of functional MKT1 allele, better respiration during early sporulation was observed, which was dependent on the mitochondrial retrograde regulator, RTG3. Furthermore, our approach showed that MKT1 contributes to sporulation independent of Puf3, an RNA-binding protein that steady-state transcription profiling studies have suggested to mediate MKT1-pleiotropic effects during mitotic growth. These results uncover interesting regulatory links between meiosis and mitochondrial retrograde signaling. In this study, we highlight the advantage of analyzing allele-specific transcriptional dynamics of mediating genes. Applications in higher eukaryotes can be valuable for inferring causal molecular pathways underlying complex dynamic processes, such as development, physiology and disease progression. PMID:26039065

  12. [Evaluation of mercury exposure in populations living near the industrial Augusta Bay (Sicily Region, Southern Italy)].

    PubMed

    Bonsignore, Maria; Andolfi, Nunzia; Quinci, Enza Maria; Madeddu, Anselmo; Tisano, Francesco; Ingallinella, Vincenzo; Castorina, Maria; Sprovieri, Mario

    2016-01-01

    OBIETTIVI: valutare e quantificare l'esposizione umana al mercurio (Hg) ed esplorare i fattori chiave che influenzano la contaminazione nelle popolazioni residenti in prossimità della Rada di Augusta, un'area a elevato rischio ambientale a causa degli effetti degli sversamenti incontrollati di Hg da parte di uno dei più grandi impianti cloro-soda d'Europa. DISEGNO: un campione di residenti nei comuni di Augusta, Priolo e Melilli (Sicilia orientale) è stato selezionato per lo studio di biomonitoraggio umano. Un questionario dettagliato è stato somministrato a ogni partecipante per raccogliere informazioni anagrafiche sulle abitudini di vita e alimentari. I livelli di Hg in sangue e capelli, usati come traccianti di esposizione a metilmercurio, sono stati messi in relazione al consumo di pesce locale. Il contenuto di Hg nelle urine è stato utilizzato per esplorare eventuali esposizioni atmosferiche a Hg inorganico. Una regressione lineare multivariata è stata applicata con l'obiettivo di esplorare i fattori che influenzano l'esposizione umana al Hg. L'approccio tossicocinetico è stato impiegato al fine di calcolare la dose settimanale provvisoria tollerabile ( provisional tolerable weekly intake, PTWI) e di predire le concentrazioni di Hg attese nel sangue degli individui con una dieta alimentare basata esclusivamente su pesce locale. 224 individui residenti nei comuni di Augusta, Melilli e Priolo. RISULTATI: eccessi di Hg sono stati misurati nel sangue e nei capelli del campione considerato. I più alti livelli sono stati rilevati ad Augusta, dove anche il consumo di pesce locale risulta maggiore. I valori di dose settimanale tollerabile provvisoria (PTWI) calcolati eccedono, nella maggior parte dei casi, le raccomandazioni internazionali, specialmente nei residenti ad Augusta. CONCLUSIONI: gli elevati livelli di Hg registrati nei campioni di sangue e capelli derivano, con ogni probabilità, dal consumo di pesce locale. Rispetto ad Augusta, gli individui di Priolo e Melilli subiscono un impatto più limitato. L'esposizione a Hg inorganico può essere considerata trascurabile.

  13. Whole Genome Sequences of Three Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue Strains: Yaws and Syphilis Treponemes Differ in Less than 0.2% of the Genome Sequence

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Lei; Pospíšilová, Petra; Strouhal, Michal; Qin, Xiang; Mikalová, Lenka; Norris, Steven J.; Muzny, Donna M.; Gibbs, Richard A.; Fulton, Lucinda L.; Sodergren, Erica; Weinstock, George M.; Šmajs, David

    2012-01-01

    Background The yaws treponemes, Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE) strains, are closely related to syphilis causing strains of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA). Both yaws and syphilis are distinguished on the basis of epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms, and several genetic signatures of the corresponding causative agents. Methodology/Principal Findings To precisely define genetic differences between TPA and TPE, high-quality whole genome sequences of three TPE strains (Samoa D, CDC-2, Gauthier) were determined using next-generation sequencing techniques. TPE genome sequences were compared to four genomes of TPA strains (Nichols, DAL-1, SS14, Chicago). The genome structure was identical in all three TPE strains with similar length ranging between 1,139,330 bp and 1,139,744 bp. No major genome rearrangements were found when compared to the four TPA genomes. The whole genome nucleotide divergence (dA) between TPA and TPE subspecies was 4.7 and 4.8 times higher than the observed nucleotide diversity (π) among TPA and TPE strains, respectively, corresponding to 99.8% identity between TPA and TPE genomes. A set of 97 (9.9%) TPE genes encoded proteins containing two or more amino acid replacements or other major sequence changes. The TPE divergent genes were mostly from the group encoding potential virulence factors and genes encoding proteins with unknown function. Conclusions/Significance Hypothetical genes, with genetic differences, consistently found between TPE and TPA strains are candidates for syphilitic treponemes virulence factors. Seventeen TPE genes were predicted under positive selection, and eleven of them coded either for predicted exported proteins or membrane proteins suggesting their possible association with the cell surface. Sequence changes between TPE and TPA strains and changes specific to individual strains represent suitable targets for subspecies- and strain-specific molecular diagnostics. PMID:22292095

  14. [Spatial variation in diurnal courses of stem temperature of Betula platyphylla and Fraxinus mandshurica and its influencing factors].

    PubMed

    Li, Yu Ran; Wang, Xing Chang; Wang, Chuan Kuan; Liu, Fan; Zhang, Quan Zhi

    2017-10-01

    Plant temperature is an important parameter for estimating energy balance and vegetation respiration of forest ecosystem. To examine spatial variation in diurnal courses of stem temperatures (T s ) and its influencing factors, we measured the T s with copper constantan thermocouples at different depths, heights and azimuths within the stems of two broadleaved tree species with contrasting bark and wood properties, Betula platyphylla and Fraxinus mandshurica. The results showed that the monthly mean diurnal courses of the T s largely followed that of air temperature with a 'sinusoi dal' pattern, but the T s lagged behind the air temperature by 0 h at the stem surface to 4 h at 6 cm depth. The daily maximal values and ranges of the diurnal course of T s decreased gradually with increasing measuring depth across the stem and decreasing measuring height along the stem. The circumferential variation in T s was marginal, with slightly higher daily maximal values in the south and west directions during the daytime of the dormant season. Differences in thermal properties (i.e. , specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity) of both bark and wood tissue between the two species contributed to the inter specific variations in the radial variation in T s through influencing the heat exchange between the stem surface and ambient air as well as heat diffusion within the stem. The higher reflectance of the bark of B. platyphylla decreased the influence of solar radiation on T s . The stepwise regression showed that the diurnal courses of T s could be well predicted by the environmental factors (R 2 > 0.85) with an order of influence ranking as air temperature > water vapor pressure > net radiation > wind speed. It is necessary to take the radial, vertical and inter specific varia-tions in T s into account when estimating biomass heat storage and stem CO2 efflux.

  15. Molecular specificity, convergence and constraint shape adaptive evolution in nutrient-poor environments.

    PubMed

    Hong, Jungeui; Gresham, David

    2014-01-01

    One of the central goals of evolutionary biology is to explain and predict the molecular basis of adaptive evolution. We studied the evolution of genetic networks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) populations propagated for more than 200 generations in different nitrogen-limiting conditions. We find that rapid adaptive evolution in nitrogen-poor environments is dominated by the de novo generation and selection of copy number variants (CNVs), a large fraction of which contain genes encoding specific nitrogen transporters including PUT4, DUR3 and DAL4. The large fitness increases associated with these alleles limits the genetic heterogeneity of adapting populations even in environments with multiple nitrogen sources. Complete identification of acquired point mutations, in individual lineages and entire populations, identified heterogeneity at the level of genetic loci but common themes at the level of functional modules, including genes controlling phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate metabolism and vacuole biogenesis. Adaptive strategies shared with other nutrient-limited environments point to selection of genetic variation in the TORC1 and Ras/PKA signaling pathways as a general mechanism underlying improved growth in nutrient-limited environments. Within a single population we observed the repeated independent selection of a multi-locus genotype, comprised of the functionally related genes GAT1, MEP2 and LST4. By studying the fitness of individual alleles, and their combination, as well as the evolutionary history of the evolving population, we find that the order in which these mutations are acquired is constrained by epistasis. The identification of repeatedly selected variation at functionally related loci that interact epistatically suggests that gene network polymorphisms (GNPs) may be a frequent outcome of adaptive evolution. Our results provide insight into the mechanistic basis by which cells adapt to nutrient-limited environments and suggest that knowledge of the selective environment and the regulatory mechanisms important for growth and survival in that environment greatly increase the predictability of adaptive evolution.

  16. PRESS40: a project for involving students in active seismic risk mitigation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barnaba, Carla; Contessi, Elisa; Rosa Girardi, Maria

    2016-04-01

    To memorialize the anniversary of the 1976 Friuli earthquake, the Istituto Statale di Istruzione Superiore "Magrini Marchetti" in Gemona del Friuli (NE Italy), with the collaboration of the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), has promoted the PRESS40 Project (Prevenzione Sismica nella Scuola a 40 anni dal terremoto del Friuli, that in English sounds like "Seismic Prevention at School 40 years later the Friuli earthquake"). The project has developed in the 2015-2016 school year, starting from the 40th anniversary of the Friuli earthquake, and it aims to disseminate historical memory, seismic culture and awareness of seismic safety in the young generations, too often unconscious of past experiences, as recent seismic hazard perception tests have demonstrated. The basic idea of the PRESS40 Project is to involve the students in experimental activities to be active part of the seismic mitigation process. The Project is divided into two main parts, the first one in which students learn-receive knowledge from researchers, and the second one in which they teach-bring knowledge to younger students. In the first part of the project, 75 students of the "Magrini Marchetti" school acquired new geophysical data, covering the 23 municipalities from which they come from. These municipalities represent a wide area affected by the 1976 Friuli earthquake. In each locality a significant site was examined, represented by a school area. At least, 127 measurements of ambient noise have been acquired. Data processing and interpretation of all the results are still going on, under the supervision of OGS researchers.The second part of the project is planned for the early spring, when the students will present the results of geophysical survey to the younger ones of the monitored schools and to the citizens in occasion of events to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Friuli earthquake.

  17. Astronomy in the Age of Leonardo.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Welther, B. L.

    1997-12-01

    In the 1450s, when Leonardo da Vinci was born, horoscopes were still based primarily on the 13th-century tables developed in the court of Alfonso el Sabio of Spain. By the 15th century European astronomers were computing revised forms of the tables. In Italy, for example, Giovanni Bianchini of Ferrara completed his Tabulae astronomicae in the 1440s. It was finally published posthumously in Venice in 1495. By the 1480s Domenico Maria Novara, a professor of astronomy in Bologna, was publishing annual prognostications of eclipses, conjunctions, and other celestial phenomena. Against this background of traditional astronomy in Italy, two Florentines recorded observations of the sun and moon, comets, and meteorology. Paolo dal Pozzi Toscanelli flourished in the first half of the 15th century and Leonardo da Vinci in the last half. Their observations of celestial phenomena were not primarily for astronomical purposes; they were spinoffs of other pursuits such as medicine, astrology, optics, engineering, and studies of light and shadow. As a physician and cartographer, Toscanelli practiced astrology, studied omens, observed comets and plotted their paths on homemade maps. He also was associated with the construction of a gnomon at the top of the Duomo to observe the summer solstice. It was this project that may have brought him into contact with the young artisan, Leonardo da Vinci. As a painter, Leonardo's approach to science and engineering was to observe, sketch and analyze. His interest in light and shadow led him to notice how the earth, moon and planets all reflect sunlight. His extant manuscripts have geometric sketches for eclipses and for the phenomenon known as "old moon in new moon's arms." Unfortunately, because neither Toscanelli nor Leonardo published their observations, they made no impact on the history of astronomical thought or observation. Their contemporaries did not know or write about their work. Astronomers in the 16th century did not know about their manuscripts.

  18. Growth and Maximum Size of Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Hawaii

    PubMed Central

    Meyer, Carl G.; O'Malley, Joseph M.; Papastamatiou, Yannis P.; Dale, Jonathan J.; Hutchinson, Melanie R.; Anderson, James M.; Royer, Mark A.; Holland, Kim N.

    2014-01-01

    Tiger sharks (Galecerdo cuvier) are apex predators characterized by their broad diet, large size and rapid growth. Tiger shark maximum size is typically between 380 & 450 cm Total Length (TL), with a few individuals reaching 550 cm TL, but the maximum size of tiger sharks in Hawaii waters remains uncertain. A previous study suggested tiger sharks grow rather slowly in Hawaii compared to other regions, but this may have been an artifact of the method used to estimate growth (unvalidated vertebral ring counts) compounded by small sample size and narrow size range. Since 1993, the University of Hawaii has conducted a research program aimed at elucidating tiger shark biology, and to date 420 tiger sharks have been tagged and 50 recaptured. All recaptures were from Hawaii except a single shark recaptured off Isla Jacques Cousteau (24°13′17″N 109°52′14″W), in the southern Gulf of California (minimum distance between tag and recapture sites  =  approximately 5,000 km), after 366 days at liberty (DAL). We used these empirical mark-recapture data to estimate growth rates and maximum size for tiger sharks in Hawaii. We found that tiger sharks in Hawaii grow twice as fast as previously thought, on average reaching 340 cm TL by age 5, and attaining a maximum size of 403 cm TL. Our model indicates the fastest growing individuals attain 400 cm TL by age 5, and the largest reach a maximum size of 444 cm TL. The largest shark captured during our study was 464 cm TL but individuals >450 cm TL were extremely rare (0.005% of sharks captured). We conclude that tiger shark growth rates and maximum sizes in Hawaii are generally consistent with those in other regions, and hypothesize that a broad diet may help them to achieve this rapid growth by maximizing prey consumption rates. PMID:24416287

  19. Growth and maximum size of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Hawaii.

    PubMed

    Meyer, Carl G; O'Malley, Joseph M; Papastamatiou, Yannis P; Dale, Jonathan J; Hutchinson, Melanie R; Anderson, James M; Royer, Mark A; Holland, Kim N

    2014-01-01

    Tiger sharks (Galecerdo cuvier) are apex predators characterized by their broad diet, large size and rapid growth. Tiger shark maximum size is typically between 380 & 450 cm Total Length (TL), with a few individuals reaching 550 cm TL, but the maximum size of tiger sharks in Hawaii waters remains uncertain. A previous study suggested tiger sharks grow rather slowly in Hawaii compared to other regions, but this may have been an artifact of the method used to estimate growth (unvalidated vertebral ring counts) compounded by small sample size and narrow size range. Since 1993, the University of Hawaii has conducted a research program aimed at elucidating tiger shark biology, and to date 420 tiger sharks have been tagged and 50 recaptured. All recaptures were from Hawaii except a single shark recaptured off Isla Jacques Cousteau (24°13'17″N 109°52'14″W), in the southern Gulf of California (minimum distance between tag and recapture sites  =  approximately 5,000 km), after 366 days at liberty (DAL). We used these empirical mark-recapture data to estimate growth rates and maximum size for tiger sharks in Hawaii. We found that tiger sharks in Hawaii grow twice as fast as previously thought, on average reaching 340 cm TL by age 5, and attaining a maximum size of 403 cm TL. Our model indicates the fastest growing individuals attain 400 cm TL by age 5, and the largest reach a maximum size of 444 cm TL. The largest shark captured during our study was 464 cm TL but individuals >450 cm TL were extremely rare (0.005% of sharks captured). We conclude that tiger shark growth rates and maximum sizes in Hawaii are generally consistent with those in other regions, and hypothesize that a broad diet may help them to achieve this rapid growth by maximizing prey consumption rates.

  20. Cross-syndrome comparison of real-world executive functioning and problem solving using a new problem-solving questionnaire.

    PubMed

    Camp, Joanne S; Karmiloff-Smith, Annette; Thomas, Michael S C; Farran, Emily K

    2016-12-01

    Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders like Williams syndrome and Down syndrome exhibit executive function impairments on experimental tasks (Lanfranchi, Jerman, Dal Pont, Alberti, & Vianello, 2010; Menghini, Addona, Costanzo, & Vicari, 2010), but the way that they use executive functioning for problem solving in everyday life has not hitherto been explored. The study aim is to understand cross-syndrome characteristics of everyday executive functioning and problem solving. Parents/carers of individuals with Williams syndrome (n=47) or Down syndrome (n=31) of a similar chronological age (m=17 years 4 months and 18 years respectively) as well as those of a group of younger typically developing children (n=34; m=8years 3 months) completed two questionnaires: the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF; Gioia, Isquith, Guy, & Kenworthy, 2000) and a novel Problem-Solving Questionnaire. The rated likelihood of reaching a solution in a problem solving situation was lower for both syndromic groups than the typical group, and lower still for the Williams syndrome group than the Down syndrome group. The proportion of group members meeting the criterion for clinical significance on the BRIEF was also highest for the Williams syndrome group. While changing response, avoiding losing focus and maintaining perseverance were important for problem-solving success in all groups, asking for help and avoiding becoming emotional were also important for the Down syndrome and Williams syndrome groups respectively. Keeping possessions in order was a relative strength amongst BRIEF scales for the Down syndrome group. Results suggest that individuals with Down syndrome tend to use compensatory strategies for problem solving (asking for help and potentially, keeping items well ordered), while for individuals with Williams syndrome, emotional reactions disrupt their problem-solving skills. This paper highlights the importance of identifying syndrome-specific problem-solving strengths and difficulties to improve effective functioning in everyday life. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. SRTM Perspective View with Landsat Overlay: San Joaquin Valley, California

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    San Joaquin, the name given to the southern portion of California's vast Central Valley, has been called the world's richest agricultural valley. In this perspective view generated using data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and an enhanced Landsat image, we are looking toward the southwest over a checkerboard pattern of agricultural fields. Mt. Pinos, a popular location for stargazing at 2,692 meters (8,831 feet) looms above the valley floor and is visible on the left side of the image. The productive southern San Joaquin is in reality a desert, averaging less than 12.7 cm (5 inches) of rain per year. Through canals and irrigation, the region nurtures some two hundred crops including grapes, figs, apricots, oranges, and more than 4,047 square-km (1,000,000 acres) of cotton. The California Aqueduct, transporting water from the Sacramento River Delta through the San Joaquin, runs along the base of the low-lying Wheeler Ridge on the left side of the image. The valley is not all agriculture though. Kern County, near the valley's southern end, is the United States' number one oil producing county, and actually produces more crude oil than Oklahoma. For visualization purposes, topographic heights displayed in this image are exaggerated two times. Colors, from Landsat data, approximate natural color.

    The elevation data used in this image was acquired by SRTM aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, launched on February 11, 2000. SRTM used the same radar instrument that comprised the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) that flew twice on Endeavour in 1994. SRTM was designed to collect three-dimensional measurements of Earth's land surface. To collect the 3-D SRTM data, engineers added a mast 60 meters (about 200 feet)long, installed additional C-band and X-band antennas, and improved tracking and navigation devices. The mission is a cooperative project between the NASA, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) of the U.S. Department of Defense, and the German and Italian space agencies. It is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif, for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise,Washington, D.C. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

    Location: 35.08 deg. North lat., 119.00 deg. West lon. View: Toward the Southwest Scale: Scale Varies in this Perspective Date Acquired: February 16, 2000 SRTM, December 14, 1984 Landsat

  2. Decision Support Modeling for Water-Use Planning With Sparse Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brainard, J. R.; Williams, A. A.; Tidwell, V. C.

    2006-12-01

    In the face of the combined impacts of drought and increased water demand in the arid southwest, water resource managers are more frequently being called upon to solve contentious water management issues. Such efforts are often confounded by sparse and inexact data. System dynamics provides a valuable modeling framework to explore pertinent uncertainties and test alternative system conceptualizations. In particular, the quickness of simulations and the object oriented modeling environment allows for efficient investigations into system uncertainty. Through sensitivity studies, the limits of uncertain variables can be determined and the accuracy of the underlying conceptual model can be tested. Here we apply system dynamic modeling to a New Mexico Office of the State Engineer Active Water Resource Management Priority Basin in southwest New Mexico where water managers are faced with developing water allocation plans under drought conditions. The Mimbres River Basin, one of several closed north-south trending structural basins in southwestern New Mexico, has a total drainage area of 13,300 km2 (5,140 mi2), most of which overlies an economically significant aquifer comprised of Tertiary and Quaternary alluvium. The Mimbres River heads in the Black and Los Pinos Mountain Ranges where elevations reach 3,051 m (10,011 ft) above sea level. The river is perennial in a segment of the upper reach where the basin is relatively narrow and where groundwater is limited. In this perennial reach, the Mimbres River is used extensively for agricultural irrigation in which those with senior rights are downstream of those with junior rights. Domestic wells, most of which have junior rights, impact river flow through pumping from the accompanying alluvial aquifer. This modeling effort concentrates on the upper reach of the Mimbres River where continued drought is expected to result in water shortages creating conflicts between water users. Objectives of this effort are 1) to develop a physically based model that can be used by water managers to explore the outcomes of various water management scenarios under a full spectrum of hydrologic conditions and social demands placed on the system, and 2) to identify significant data gaps and uncertainty that impacts the ability to make sound science-based water management decisions, and 3) to evaluate how uncertainties should be communicated and addressed in the planning process. The model uses physically based calculations to explore relationships between climate and other variables of interest such as vegetative water consumption from riparian communities and agriculture crops and to explore climate driven impacts on surface and ground water availability.

  3. Assessing potential changes of chestnut productivity in Europe under future climate conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Calheiros, T.; Pereira, M. G.; Pinto, J. G.; Caramelo, L.; Gomes-Laranjo, J.; Dacamara, C. C.

    2012-04-01

    The European chestnut is cultivated for its nuts and wood. Several studies point to the dependency of chestnut productivity on specific soil and climate characteristics. For instance, this species dislikes chalky and poorly drained soils, appreciates sedimentary, siliceous and acidic to neutral soils. Chestnut trees also seems to appreciate annual mean values of sunlight spanning between 2400 and 2600 h, rainfall ranging between 600 and 1500 mm, mean annual temperature between 9 and 13°C, 27°C being the mean of the maximum temperature (Heiniger and Conedera, 1992; Gomes-Laranjo et al.,2008). The amount of heat between May and October must range between 1800°D and 2400°D (Dinis et al., 2011) . In Poland, the growing season is defined as the period of time when the mean 24-h temperature is greater than 5°C (Wilczynski and Podalski, 2007). In Portugal, maximum photosynthetic activity occurs at 24-28°C for adult trees, but exhibits more than 50% of termoinhibition when the air temperature is above 32°C, which is frequent during summer (Gomes- Laranjo et al., 2006, 2008). Recently Pereira et al (2011) identified a set of meteorological variables/parameters with high impact on chestnut productivity. The main purpose of this work is to assess the potential impacts of future climate change on chestnut productivity in Portugal as well as on European chestnut orchards. First, observed data from the European Climate assessment (ECA) and simulations with the Regional Circulation Model (RCM) COSMO-CLM for recent climate conditions are used to assess the ability of the RCM to model the actual meteorological conditions. Then, ensemble projections from the ECHAM5/COSMO-CLM model chain for two climate scenarios (A1B and B1) are used to estimate the values of relevant meteorological variables and parameters und future climate conditions. Simulated values are then compared with those obtained for present climate. Results point to changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of meteorological variables and parameters. In particular, more severe conditions during spring and summer are expected, especially in the Mediterranean area, with less precipitation and higher temperatures. All these changes will have impacts on chestnut fruits and wood in Europe. Dinis, L-T. J., Ferreira-Cardoso, J., Peixoto, F., Costa, R. e Gomes-Laranjo, J., 2011: Study of morphological and chemical diversity in chestnut trees (var. 'Judia') as a function of temperature sum. Cyta- Journal of food, 9(3): 192-199 Gomes-Laranjo et al., 2008: Differences in photosynthetic apparatus of leaves from different sides of chestnut canopy, Photosynthetica, 46, 63-72. Heiniger,U. And Conedera, M., 1992: Chestnut forests and chestnut cultivation in Switzerland. Proceedings of the International Chestnut Conference, West Virginia University, Morgantown, 10-14 July 1992, 175-178. Pereira, M.G., Caramelo, L., Gouveia, C., Gomes-Laranjo, J., Magalhães, M., 2011: Assessment of weather-related risk on chestnut productivity. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1-12, doi:10.5194/nhess-11-12-011. Wilczynski, S. And Podlaski, R, 2007: The effect of climate on radial growth of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in the Swietokrzki National Park in Central Poland, J.For.Res., 12, 24-23.

  4. San Andreas Fault in the Carrizo Plain

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    The 1,200-kilometer (800-mile)San Andreas is the longest fault in California and one of the longest in North America. This perspective view of a portion of the fault was generated using data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), which flew on NASA's Space Shuttle last February, and an enhanced, true-color Landsat satellite image. The view shown looks southeast along the San Andreas where it cuts along the base of the mountains in the Temblor Range near Bakersfield. The fault is the distinctively linear feature to the right of the mountains. To the left of the range is a portion of the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. In the background is the snow-capped peak of Mt. Pinos at an elevation of 2,692 meters (8,831 feet). The complex topography in the area is some of the most spectacular along the course of the fault. To the right of the fault is the famous Carrizo Plain. Dry conditions on the plain have helped preserve the surface trace of the fault, which is scrutinized by both amateur and professional geologists. In 1857, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in the United States occurred just north of the Carrizo Plain. With an estimated magnitude of 8.0, the quake severely shook buildings in Los Angeles, caused significant surface rupture along a 350-kilometer (220-mile) segment of the fault, and was felt as far away as Las Vegas, Nev. This portion of the San Andreas is an important area of study for seismologists. For visualization purposes, topographic heights displayed in this image are exaggerated two times.

    The elevation data used in this image was acquired by SRTM aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, launched on February 11, 2000. SRTM used the same radar instrument that comprised the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) that flew twice on Endeavour in 1994. SRTM was designed to collect three-dimensional measurements of Earth's land surface. To collect the 3-D SRTM data, engineers added a mast 60 meters (about 200 feet) long, installed additional C-band and X-band antennas, and improved tracking and navigation devices. The mission is a cooperative project between the NASA, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) of the U.S. Department of Defense, and the German and Italian space agencies. It is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif, for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, Washington, D.C. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

    Distance to Horizon: 73 kilometers (45.3 miles) Location: 35.42 deg. North lat., 119.5 deg. West lon. View: Toward the Southeast Date Acquired: February 16, 2000 SRTM, December 14, 1984 Landsat Image: NASA/JPL/NIMA

  5. EXAFS Reveals the Mechanism of U Isotope Fractionation During Adsorption to Mn Oxyhydroxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wasylenki, L. E.; Brennecka, G.; Bargar, J.; Weyer, S.; Anbar, A. D.

    2010-12-01

    Natural variations in the ratio of 238U/235U due to “stable” isotope fractionation have now been reported for a range of geological samples [1-3]. Among the observed variations are a small difference in 238U/235U between seawater and ferromanganese sediments (seawater slightly heavier) and a larger difference, with opposite sense, between seawater and black shales (seawater lighter). These variations suggest that long-term changes in the proportions of oxic and anoxic/sulfidic sinks for U in the ocean over Earth’s history may be recorded as shifts in the isotopic compositions of marine sediments. Thus U isotopes are a potential paleoredox proxy for the oceans, as suggested by [4]. In order to investigate the mechanism behind fractionation of U isotopes in oxidizing marine environments, we previously conducted simple adsorption experiments in which an isotopically known pool of dissolved U partly adsorbed onto synthetic birnessite, a common Mn oxyhydroxide in hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts. Our experimental result agreed very well with that observed between seawater and natural ferromanganese sediments: δ238U/235U of adsorbed U was 0.2‰ lighter than δ238U/235U of dissolved U [5]. The magnitude of fractionation is constant as a function of experimental duration and fraction of U adsorbed, suggesting an equilibrium isotope effect. Many metal isotope effects are driven by changes in oxidation state for the metal of interest. Because both dissolved and adsorbed U are hexavalent in this system, a redox reaction cannot be causing isotope fractionation. We therefore hypothesized that a difference in uranium’s coordination environment between dissolved and adsorbed U is likely responsible for the isotope effect. We analyzed a sample from our experimental study with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. Comparison of the EXAFS spectrum of U adsorbed on birnessite with the spectra of aqueous U species (UO22+ and UO2(CO3)34-) reveals subtle, but important differences in the U-O coordination shell between dissolved and adsorbed U. In particular, there is an increase in disorder in the bond distances to equatorial oxygens in the adsorbed complex. Our EXAFS data support our hypothesis that a difference in coordination chemistry drives the isotope effect observed in our experiments. The same mechanism may well explain the U isotope fractionation observed between seawater and hydrogenetic ferromanganese nodules, although a similar investigation of U isotope behavior during adsorption to Fe oxyhydroxides should be undertaken. [1] Weyer et al. (2008) GCA 72, 345. [2] Stirling et al. (2007) EPSL 264, 208. [3] Bopp et al. (2009) Geology, 37, 611. [4] Montoya-Pino et al. (2010) Geology 38, 315. [5] Brennecka et al. (2008) GCA 72(12) Suppl., A114.

  6. Gln3p and Nil1p regulation of invertase activity and SUC2 expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Edna Maria Morais; Mansure, José João; Bon, Elba Pinto da Silva

    2005-04-01

    In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sensing and signalling pathways regulate gene expression in response to quality of carbon and nitrogen sources. One such system, the target of rapamycin (Tor) proteins, senses nutrients and uses the GATA activators Gln3p and Nil1p to regulate translation in response to low-quality carbon and nitrogen. The signal transduction, triggered in response to nitrogen nutrition that is sensed by the Tor proteins, operates via a regulatory pathway involving the cytoplasmic factor Ure2p. When carbon and nitrogen are abundant, the phosphorylated Ure2p anchors the also phosphorylated Gln3p and Nil1p in the cytoplasm. Upon a shift from high- to low-quality nitrogen or treatment with rapamycin all three proteins are dephosphorylated, causing Gln3p and Nil1p to enter the nucleus and promote transcription. The genes that code for yeast periplasmic enzymes with nutritional roles would be obvious targets for regulation by the sensing and signalling pathways that respond to quality of carbon and nitrogen sources. Indeed, previous results from our laboratory had shown that the GATA factors Gln3p, Nil1p, Dal80p, Nil2p and also the protein Ure2 regulate the expression of asparaginase II, coded by ASP3. We also had observed that the activity levels of the also periplasmic invertase, coded by SUC2, were 6-fold lower in ure2 mutant cells in comparison to wild-type cells collected at stationary phase. These results suggested similarities between the signalling pathways regulating the expression of ASP3 and SUC2. In the present work we showed that invertase levels displayed by the single nil1 and gln3 and by the double gln3nil1 mutant cells, cultivated in a sucrose-ammonium medium and collected at the exponential phase, were 6-, 10- and 60-fold higher, respectively, in comparison to their wild-type counterparts. RT-PCR data of SUC2 expression in the double-mutant cells indicated a 10-fold increase in the mRNA(SUC2) levels.

  7. Steady-state and dynamic gene expression programs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to variation in environmental nitrogen

    PubMed Central

    Airoldi, Edoardo M.; Miller, Darach; Athanasiadou, Rodoniki; Brandt, Nathan; Abdul-Rahman, Farah; Neymotin, Benjamin; Hashimoto, Tatsu; Bahmani, Tayebeh; Gresham, David

    2016-01-01

    Cell growth rate is regulated in response to the abundance and molecular form of essential nutrients. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast), the molecular form of environmental nitrogen is a major determinant of cell growth rate, supporting growth rates that vary at least threefold. Transcriptional control of nitrogen use is mediated in large part by nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR), which results in the repression of specific transcripts in the presence of a preferred nitrogen source that supports a fast growth rate, such as glutamine, that are otherwise expressed in the presence of a nonpreferred nitrogen source, such as proline, which supports a slower growth rate. Differential expression of the NCR regulon and additional nitrogen-responsive genes results in >500 transcripts that are differentially expressed in cells growing in the presence of different nitrogen sources in batch cultures. Here we find that in growth rate–controlled cultures using nitrogen-limited chemostats, gene expression programs are strikingly similar regardless of nitrogen source. NCR expression is derepressed in all nitrogen-limiting chemostat conditions regardless of nitrogen source, and in these conditions, only 34 transcripts exhibit nitrogen source–specific differential gene expression. Addition of either the preferred nitrogen source, glutamine, or the nonpreferred nitrogen source, proline, to cells growing in nitrogen-limited chemostats results in rapid, dose-dependent repression of the NCR regulon. Using a novel means of computational normalization to compare global gene expression programs in steady-state and dynamic conditions, we find evidence that the addition of nitrogen to nitrogen-limited cells results in the transient overproduction of transcripts required for protein translation. Simultaneously, we find that that accelerated mRNA degradation underlies the rapid clearing of a subset of transcripts, which is most pronounced for the highly expressed NCR-regulated permease genes GAP1, MEP2, DAL5, PUT4, and DIP5. Our results reveal novel aspects of nitrogen-regulated gene expression and highlight the need for a quantitative approach to study how the cell coordinates protein translation and nitrogen assimilation to optimize cell growth in different environments. PMID:26941329

  8. [Recommendations for the structure and equipment of pediatric oncologic centers].

    PubMed

    Göbel, U; Kornhuber, B; Schellong, G; Winkler, K

    1991-01-01

    The yearly incidence of cancer in children and adolescents within Germany is about 2200. The regular medical care for these children is effected within prospective multicenter trials of the DAL and GPO respectively. These trials achieved excellent results and gained high international reputation. Following an initial funding by the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technology the continuation of these trials nowadays is fully dependent on private third parties financial aid especially from the Deutsche Krebshilfe. Guarantee of progress in clinical research and of improvement in patient care as well is closely related to establishing pediatric cancer centers. Accruing about 80 new patients per year such centers have an optimum size justifying establishing stabile substructures. Integrated basic research and organization of special clinical domaines need a differentiated structure of management and a sufficient number of qualified personnel in time nonlimited positions. The recommendation of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Tumorzentren from 1979 for personnel equipment is largely insufficient with respect to the inpatients nursing staff for pediatric oncology units. A basic equipment of 1.75 nurses per patient and additional nursing staff with specific functions would seem appropriate as demonstrated by analyses and calculations within the last part of our recommendations. The ADT recommendations are also insufficient with respect to secretaries and documentation assistants. Concerning the physicians staff the ADT recommendations just need an adaption to the changes in working time in accordance with the tariffe. These recommendations, however, urgently need to be realized. The necessary staff for psycho-social work has been incorporated into our recommendations for the first time. The ratio of patient rooms to function rooms (excluding laboratories) in pediatric oncology centers diposing of an outpatient area and a day clinic should be about 1:3. Deficiencies in the personnel equipment and the generally pronounced lack in function rooms as well are hampering the daily work and have negative impact on the quality of care as experienced by the patient on the safety of medical and nursing practice and on the quality of teaching, medical education and advanced training.

  9. Razanandrongobe sakalavae, a gigantic mesoeucrocodylian from the Middle Jurassic of Madagascar, is the oldest known notosuchian

    PubMed Central

    Pasini, Giovanni; Fleury, Guillaume

    2017-01-01

    Razanandrongobe sakalavae Maganuco, Dal Sasso & Pasini, 2006 is a large predatory archosaur from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of the Mahajanga Basin, NW Madagascar. It was diagnosed on the basis of teeth and a fragmentary maxilla, but its affinities were uncertain. Here we describe new cranial remains (above all, an almost complete right premaxilla and a caudally incomplete left dentary) that greatly improve our knowledge on this enigmatic species and reveal its anatomy to be crocodylomorph. The right premaxilla indicates that the rostrum was deep, wide, and not pointed; it bears five teeth that are sub-vertical and just slightly curved lingually; the mesial teeth are U-shaped in cross-section and have serrated carinae on the lingual side; the aperturae nasi osseae (external bony nares) are confluent and face rostrally; and there is no lateral groove at the premaxillomaxillary suture for reception of a hypertrophied lower caniniform tooth. The preserved portion of the left dentary has an edentulous tip and bears eight large mandibular teeth of which the mesial (1–3) are the largest, but none is a hypertrophied caniniform tooth; the mandibular (dentary) symphysis extends caudally to the level of the third tooth; the splenial is not preserved, but its sutural marks on the dentary indicate that it contributed to the mandibular symphysis for at least 20% of the symphyseal length in dorsal aspect. On the basis of this new data, some previously uncertain features of the holotype maxilla—such as the margin of the suborbital fenestra, the contact surfaces for the palatine, the ectopterygoid, and the jugal—are now apparent. Testing of the phylogenetic position of the species within Crocodylomorpha indicates that R. sakalavae is a mesoeucrocodylian. It also represents one of the earliest events of exacerbated increase in body size along the evolutionary history of the group. In addition, it is by far the oldest notosuchian. A cranial reconstruction of this gigantic predator is also attempted here. The very robust jaw bones of R. sakalavae, coupled with its peculiar dentition, strongly suggest a diet that included hard tissue such as bone and tendon. PMID:28690926

  10. Comparison of five video-assisted intubation devices by novice and expert laryngoscopists for use in the aeromedical evacuation environment.

    PubMed

    Wallace, Matthew C; Britton, SSgt Tyler; Meek, Robbie; Walsh-Hart, Sharon; Carter, Col Todd E; Lisco, Steven J

    2017-01-01

    The critically ill or injured patient undergoing military medical evacuation may require emergent intubation. Intubation may be life-saving, but it carries risks. The novice or infrequent laryngoscopist has a distinct disadvantage because experience is critical for the rapid and safe establishment of a secured airway. This challenge is compounded by the austere environment of the back of an aircraft under blackout conditions. This study determined which of five different video-assisted intubation devices (VAIDs) was best suited for in-flight use by U.S. Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams by comparing time to successful intubation between novice and expert laryngoscopists under three conditions, Normal Airway Lights on (NAL), Difficult Airway Lights on (DAL) and Difficult Airway Blackout (DAB), using manikins on a standard military transport stanchion and the floor with a minimal amount of setup time and extraneous light emission. A convenience sample size of 40 participants (24 novices and 16 experts) attempted intubation with each of the 5 different video laryngoscopic devices on high-fidelity airway manikins. Time to tracheal intubation and number of optimization maneuvers used were recorded. Kruskal-Wallis testing determined significant differences between the VAIDs in time to intubation for each particular scenario. Devices with significant differences underwent pair-wise comparison testing using rank-sum analysis to further clarify the difference. Device assembly times, startup times and the amount of light emitted were recorded. Perceived ease of use was surveyed. Novices were fastest with the Pentax AWS in all difficult airway scenarios. Experts recorded the shortest median times consistently using 3 of the 5 devices. The AWS was superior overall in 4 of the 6 scenarios tested. Experts and novices subjectively judged the GlideScope Ranger as easiest to use. The light emitted by all the devices was less than the USAF-issued headlamp. Novices intubated fastest with the Pentax AWS in all difficult airway scenarios. The GlideScope required the shortest setup time, and participants judged this device as the easiest to use. The GlideScope and AWS exhibited the two fastest total setup times. Both devices are suitable for in-flight use by infrequent and seasoned laryngoscopists.

  11. Environmental forcing of nitrogen fixation in the eastern tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic Ocean.

    PubMed

    Rijkenberg, Micha J A; Langlois, Rebecca J; Mills, Matthew M; Patey, Matthew D; Hill, Polly G; Nielsdóttir, Maria C; Compton, Tanya J; Laroche, Julie; Achterberg, Eric P

    2011-01-01

    During the winter of 2006 we measured nifH gene abundances, dinitrogen (N(2)) fixation rates and carbon fixation rates in the eastern tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic Ocean. The dominant diazotrophic phylotypes were filamentous cyanobacteria, which may include Trichodesmium and Katagnymene, with up to 10(6) L(-1)nifH gene copies, unicellular group A cyanobacteria with up to 10(5) L(-1)nifH gene copies and gamma A proteobacteria with up to 10(4) L(-1)nifH gene copies. N(2) fixation rates were low and ranged between 0.032-1.28 nmol N L(-1) d(-1) with a mean of 0.30 ± 0.29 nmol N L(-1) d(-1) (1σ, n = 65). CO(2)-fixation rates, representing primary production, appeared to be nitrogen limited as suggested by low dissolved inorganic nitrogen to phosphate ratios (DIN:DIP) of about 2 ± 3.2 in surface waters. Nevertheless, N(2) fixation rates contributed only 0.55 ± 0.87% (range 0.03-5.24%) of the N required for primary production. Boosted regression trees analysis (BRT) showed that the distribution of the gamma A proteobacteria and filamentous cyanobacteria nifH genes was mainly predicted by the distribution of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria. In addition, BRT indicated that multiple a-biotic environmental variables including nutrients DIN, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and DIP, trace metals like dissolved aluminum (DAl), as a proxy of dust inputs, dissolved iron (DFe) and Fe-binding ligands as well as oxygen and temperature influenced N(2) fixation rates and the distribution of the dominant diazotrophic phylotypes. Our results suggest that lower predicted oxygen concentrations and higher temperatures due to climate warming may increase N(2) fixation rates. However, the balance between a decreased supply of DIP and DFe from deep waters as a result of more pronounced stratification and an enhanced supply of these nutrients with a predicted increase in deposition of Saharan dust may ultimately determine the consequences of climate warming for N(2) fixation in the North Atlantic.

  12. Construction of a novel gene bank of Bacillus subtilis using a low copy number vector in Escherichia coli.

    PubMed

    Hasnain, S; Thomas, C M

    1986-07-01

    Low copy number vector plasmid pCT571 was constructed to clone Bacillus subtilis genomic fragments in Escherichia coli. pCT571 confers KmR, TcR and CmR in E. coli and CmR in B. subtilis. It has unique restriction sites within the KmR and TcR markers to allow screening for recombinant plasmids by insertional inactivation of these genes. It contains the pSC101 replicon and replicates normally at six to eight copies per chromosome equivalent in E. coli. It also contains oriVRK2, which when supplied with the product of the trfA gene of RK2 in trans, allows pCT571 to replicate at 35-40 copies per chromosome equivalent. A B. subtilis gene bank was created by cloning partially Sau3A-digested and size-fractionated fragments of B. subtilis chromosomal DNA into the BamHI site of pCT571. DNA from 1097 KmR TcS transformants was extracted and analysed electrophoretically as supercoiled DNA and after digesting with EcoRI or EcoRI and SalI. Approximately 1000 hybrid plasmids were found with reasonably sized B. subtilis fragments. The mean size of the inserts in pCT571 is 8 kb, ranging from 4 to 20 kb in different plasmids. The gene bank covers most of the B. subtilis chromosome, as demonstrated by the results of screening the gene bank for selectable nutritional markers in E. coli and B. subtilis. Hybrid plasmids which complement E. coli mutants for arg, his, lys, met, pdx, pyr and thr markers were identified from the gene bank. In B. subtilis the presence of argC, cysA, dal, hisA, ilvA, leuA, lys, metB, metC, phe, purA, purB, thr and trpC was established by transformation experiments. The effects of copy number on cloning and long-term maintenance in the bacterial strains were also investigated. At high copy number some hybrid plasmids cannot be maintained at all, while others show an increased rate of structural deletions and rearrangements.

  13. Perinatal Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

    PubMed

    Gong, Tong; Dalman, Christina; Wicks, Susanne; Dal, Henrik; Magnusson, Cecilia; Lundholm, Cecilia; Almqvist, Catarina; Pershagen, Göran

    2017-01-01

    Studies from the United States indicate that exposure to air pollution in early life is associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children, but the evidence is not consistent with European data. We aimed to investigate the association between exposure to air pollution from road traffic and the risk of ASD in children, with careful adjustment for socioeconomic and other confounders. Children born and residing in Stockholm, Sweden, during 1993-2007 with an ASD diagnosis were identified through multiple health registers and classified as cases (n = 5,136). A randomly selected sample of 18,237 children from the same study base constituted controls. Levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter with diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) from road traffic were estimated at residential addresses during mother's pregnancy and the child's first year of life by dispersion models. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ASD with or without intellectual disability (ID) were estimated using logistic regression models after conditioning on municipality and calendar year of birth as well as adjustment for potential confounders. Air pollution exposure during the prenatal period was not associated with ASD overall (OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.86, 1.15 per 10-μg/m3 increase in PM10 and OR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.94, 1.10 per 20-μg/m3 increase in NOx during mother's pregnancy). Similar results were seen for exposure during the first year of life, and for ASD in combination with ID. An inverse association between air pollution exposure and ASD risk was observed among children of mothers who moved to a new residence during pregnancy. Early-life exposure to low levels of NOx and PM10 from road traffic does not appear to increase the risk of ASD. Citation: Gong T, Dalman C, Wicks S, Dal H, Magnusson C, Lundholm C, Almqvist C, Pershagen G. 2017. Perinatal exposure to traffic-related air pollution and autism spectrum disorders. Environ Health Perspect 125:119-126; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP118.

  14. Soil and geomorphological parameters to characterize natural environmental and human induced changes within the Guadarrama Range (Central Spain)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schmid, Thomas; Inclán-Cuartas, Rosa M.; Santolaria-Canales, Edmundo; Saa, Antonio; Rodríguez-Rastrero, Manuel; Tanarro-Garcia, Luis M.; Luque, Esperanza; Pelayo, Marta; Ubeda, Jose; Tarquis, Ana; Diaz-Puente, Javier; De Marcos, Javier; Rodriguez-Alonso, Javier; Hernandez, Carlos; Palacios, David; Gallardo-Díaz, Juan; Fidel González-Rouco, J.

    2016-04-01

    Mediterranean mountain ecosystems are often complex and remarkably diverse and are seen as important sources of biological diversity. They play a key role in the water and sediment cycle for lowland regions as well as preventing and mitigating natural hazards especially those related to drought such as fire risk. However, these ecosystems are fragile and vulnerable to changes due to their particular and extreme climatic and biogeographic conditions. Some of the main pressures on mountain biodiversity are caused by changes in land use practices, infrastructure and urban development, unsustainable tourism, overexploitation of natural resources, fragmentation of habitats, particularly when located close to large population centers, as well as by pressures related toclimate change. The objective of this work is to select soil and geomorphological parameters in order to characterize natural environmental and human induced changes within the newly created National Park of the Sierra de Guadarrama in Central Spain, where the presence of the Madrid metropolitan area is the main factor of impact. This is carried out within the framework of the Guadarrama Monitoring Network (GuMNet) of the Campus de ExcelenciaInternacionalMoncloa, where long-term monitoring of the atmosphere, soil and bedrock are priority. This network has a total of ten stations located to the NW of Madrid and in this case, three stations have been selected to represent different ecosystems that include: 1) an alluvial plain in a lowland pasture area (La Herreria at 920 m a.s.l.), 2) mid mountain pine-forested and pasture area (Raso del Pino at 1801 m a.s.l.) and 3) high mountain grassland and rock area (Dos Hermanas at 2225 m a.s.l.). At each station a site geomorphological description, soil profile description and sampling was carried out. In the high mountain area information was obtained for monitoring frost heave activity and downslope soil movement. Basic soil laboratory analyses have been carried out to determine the physical and chemical soil properties. The parent material is gneiss andassociated deposits and, as a result, soils are acid. The soils have a low to medium organic matter content and are non-saline. They are moderately to well drained soils and have no or slight evidence of erosion. The soil within the high mountain area has clear evidence of frost heave that has a vertical displacement of the surface in the centimeter range. The stations within the lowland and mid mountain areas represent the most degraded sites as a result of the livestock keeping, whereas the high mountain area is mainly influenced by natural environmental conditions. These soil and geomorphological parameters will constitute a basis for site characterization in future studies regarding soil degradation; determining the interaction between soil, vegetation and atmosphere with respect to human induced activities (e.g. atmospheric contamination and effects of fires); determining the nitrogen and carbon cycles; and the influence of heavy metal contaminants in the soils.

  15. Anticipatory Mechanisms in Evolutionary Living Systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dubois, Daniel M.; Holmberg, Stig C.

    2010-11-01

    This paper deals firstly with a revisiting of Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. Darwin in his book never uses the word "evolution", but shows a clear position about mutability of species. Darwin's Natural Selection was mainly inspired by the anticipatory Artificial Selection by humans in domestication, and the Malthus struggle for existence. Darwin showed that the struggle for existence leads to the preservation of the most divergent offspring of any one species. He cited several times the canon of "Natura non facit saltum". He spoke about the origin of life from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed. Finally, Darwin made anticipation about the future researches in psychology. This paper cites the work of Ernst Mayr who was the first, after 90 years of an intense scientific debate, to present a new and stable Darwinian paradigm as the "Evolutionary Synthesis" in 1942. To explain what is life, the Living Systems Theory (LST) by J. G. Miller is presented. It is showed that the Autopoietic Systems Theory of Varela et al is also a fundamental component of living systems. In agreement with Darwin, the natural selection is a necessary condition for transformation of biological systems, but is not a sufficient condition. Thus, in this paper we conjecture that an anticipatory evolutionary mechanism exists with the genetic code that is a self-replicating and self-modifying anticipatory program. As demonstrated by Nobel laureate McClintock, evolution in genomes is programmed. The word "program" comes from "pro-gram" meaning to write before, by anticipation, and means a plan for the programming of a mechanism, or a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism, or a sequence of coded instructions, as genes of behavioural responses, that is part of an organism. For example, cell death may be programmed by what is called the apoptosis. This definitively is a great breakthrough in our understanding of biological evolution. Hence, it is possible to formulate a new principle of evolution, i.e. the principle of Double Anticipatory Loop (DAL) of evolution: Biological evolution is driven by interaction between a mindless environment that is passively selecting the fittest inhabitants and purposeful anticipatory living systems, which are actively selecting and creating their own environment. Evolution on the genome level is trigged by environmental stress but guided by an inherent program.

  16. Reaction rim growth in the system MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 under uniaxial stress

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Götze, Lutz Christoph; Abart, Rainer; Rybacki, Erik; Keller, Lukas M.; Petrishcheva, Elena; Dresen, Georg

    2010-07-01

    We synthesize reaction rims between thermodynamically incompatible phases in the system MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 applying uniaxial load using a creep apparatus. Synthesis experiments are done in the MgO-SiO2 and in the MgO-Al2O3 subsystems at temperatures ranging from 1150 to 1350 °C imposing vertical stresses of 1.2 to 29 MPa at ambient pressure and under a constant flow of dry argon. Single crystals of synthetic and natural quartz and forsterite, synthetic periclase and synthetic corundum polycrystals are used as starting materials. We produce enstatite rims at forsterite-quartz contacts, enstatite-forsterite double rims at periclase-quartz contacts and spinel rims at periclase-corundum contacts. We find that rim growth under the “dry” conditions of our experiments is sluggish compared to what has been found previously in nominally “dry” piston cylinder experiments. We further observe that the nature of starting material, synthetic or natural, has a major influence on rim growth rates, where natural samples are more reactive than synthetic ones. At a given temperature the effect of stress variation is larger than what is anticipated from the modification of the thermodynamic driving force for reaction due to the storage of elastic strain energy in the reactant phases. We speculate that this may be due to modification of the physical properties of the polycrystals that constitute the reaction rims or by deformation under the imposed load. In our experiments rim growth is very sluggish at forsterite-quartz interfaces. Rim growth is more rapid at periclase-quartz contacts. The spinel rims that are produced at periclase-corundum interfaces show parabolic growth indicating that reaction rim growth is essentially diffusion controlled. From the analysis of time series done in the MgO-Al2O3 subsystem we derive effective diffusivities for the Al2O3 and the MgO components in a spinel polycrystal as D_{MgO} = 1.4 ± 0.2 \\cdot 10^{-15} m2/s and D_{Al_2O_3} = 3.7 ± 0.6 \\cdot 10^{-16} m2/s for T = 1350 °C and a vertical stress of 2.9 MPa.

  17. Diffusion modelling of metamorphic layered coronas with stability criterion and consideration of affinity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ashworth, J. R.; Sheplev, V. S.

    1997-09-01

    Layered coronas between two reactant minerals can, in many cases, be attributed to diffusion-controlled growth with local equilibrium. This paper clarifies and unifies the previous approaches of various authors to the simplest form of modelling, which uses no assumed values for thermochemical quantities. A realistic overall reaction must be estimated from measured overall proportions of minerals and their major element compositions. Modelling is not restricted to a particular number of components S, relative to the number of phases Φ. IfΦ > S + 1, the overall reaction is a combination of simultaneous reactions. The stepwise method, solving for the local reaction at each boundary in turn, is extended to allow for recurrence of a mineral (its presence in two parts of the layer structure separated by a gap). The equations are also given in matrix form. A thermodynamic stability criterion is derived, determining which layer sequence is truly stable if several are computable from the same inputs. A layer structure satisfying the stability criterion has greater growth rate (and greater rate of entropy production) than the other computable layer sequences. This criterion of greatest entropy production is distinct from Prigogine's theorem of minimum entropy production, which distinguishes the stationary or quasi-stationary state from other states of the same layer sequence. The criterion leads to modification of previous results for coronas comprising hornblende, spinel, and orthopyroxene between olivine (Ol) and plagioclase (Pl). The outcome supports the previous inference that Si, and particularly Al, commonly behave as immobile relative to other cation-forming major elements. The affinity (-ΔG) of a corona-forming reaction is estimated, using previous estimates of diffusion coefficient and the duration t of reaction, together with a new model quantity (-ΔG) *. For an example of the Ol + Pl reaction, a rough calculation gives (-ΔG) > 1.7RT (per mole of P1 consumed, based on a 24-oxygen formula for Pl). At 600-700°C, this represents (-ΔG) > 10kJ mol -1 and departure from equilibrium temperature by at least ˜ 100°C. The lower end of this range is petrologically reasonable and, for t < 100Ma, corresponds to a Fick's-law diffusion coefficient for Al, DAl > 10 -25m 2s -1, larger than expected for lattice diffusion but consistent with fluid-absent grain-boundary diffusion and small concentration gradients.

  18. The genes and enzymes for the catabolism of galactitol, D-tagatose, and related carbohydrates in Klebsiella oxytoca M5a1 and other enteric bacteria display convergent evolution.

    PubMed

    Shakeri-Garakani, A; Brinkkötter, A; Schmid, K; Turgut, S; Lengeler, J W

    2004-07-01

    Enteric bacteria (Enteriobacteriaceae) carry on their single chromosome about 4000 genes that all strains have in common (referred to here as "obligatory genes"), and up to 1300 "facultative" genes that vary from strain to strain and from species to species. In closely related species, obligatory and facultative genes are orthologous genes that are found at similar loci. We have analyzed a set of facultative genes involved in the degradation of the carbohydrates galactitol, D-tagatose, D-galactosamine and N-acetyl-galactosamine in various pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of these bacteria. The four carbohydrates are transported into the cell by phosphotransferase (PTS) uptake systems, and are metabolized by closely related or even identical catabolic enzymes via pathways that share several intermediates. In about 60% of Escherichia coli strains the genes for galactitol degradation map to a gat operon at 46.8 min. In strains of Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca, the corresponding gat genes, although orthologous to their E. coli counterparts, are found at 70.7 min, clustered in a regulon together with three tag genes for the degradation of D-tagatose, an isomer of D-fructose. In contrast, in all the E. coli strains tested, this chromosomal site was found to be occupied by an aga/kba gene cluster for the degradation of D-galactosamine and N-acetyl-galactosamine. The aga/kba and the tag genes were paralogous either to the gat cluster or to the fru genes for degradation of D-fructose. Finally, in more then 90% of strains of both Klebsiella species, and in about 5% of the E. coli strains, two operons were found at 46.8 min that comprise paralogous genes for catabolism of the isomers D-arabinitol (genes atl or dal) and ribitol (genes rtl or rbt). In these strains gat genes were invariably absent from this location, and they were totally absent in S. enterica. These results strongly indicate that these various gene clusters and metabolic pathways have been subject to convergent evolution among the Enterobacteriaceae. This apparently involved recent horizontal gene transfer and recombination events, as indicated by major chromosomal rearrangements found in their immediate vicinity.

  19. Late Pleistocene Activity and deformation features of the North Margin Fault of West Qinling Mountains, northeastern Tibet

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, P.; Lin, A.; Yan, B.

    2017-12-01

    Abstract: A precise constraints of slip rates of active faults within and around Tibetan Plateau will provide us a definite and explicit knowledge of continental dynamics and present-day tectonic evolution. The major strike-slip faults in the northern and northeastern Tibetan Plateau, including the Altyn Tagh fault and Kunlun fault play a vital role in dissipating and transferring the strain energy. The WNW-trending North Margin Fault of West Qinling Mountains (hereafter name NMFWQM, the target of this study) developed along the topographic boundary between Longzhong basin and the Qinling mountains. Intensive Historic records show that large earthquakes repeatedly in the area around the NMFWQM, including the AD 143 M 7.0 Gangu West earthquake; AD 734 M≥7.0 Tianshui earthquake; AD 1654 M 8.0 Tianshui South earthquake and the most recent 2013 Mw6.0 Zhangxian earthquake. In this study, we investigated the structural features and activity of the NMFWQM including the nature of the fault, slip rate, and paleoseismicity by interpretation of high-resolution remote sensing images and field investigation. Based on the interpretations of high resolution satellite images, field investigations and 14C dating ages, we conclude the following conclusions: 1) The drainage systems have been systematical deflected or offset sinistrally along the fault trace; 2) The amounts of displacement (D) show a positive linear correlation with the upstream length (L) from the deflected point of offset river channels as DaL (a: a certain coefficient); 3) The alluvial fans and terrace risers formed in the last interglacial period are systematically offset by 16.4m to 93.9 m, indicating an accumulation of horizontal displacements as that observed in the offset drainages; 4) A horizontal slip rate is estimated to be 2.5-3.1 mm/yr with an average of 2.8 mm/yr. Comparing with the well-know strike-slip active faults developed in the northern Tibetan Plateau, such as the Altyn Tagh fault and Kunlun fault along which the slip rate is estimated to be up to >10 mm/yr, the NMFWQ shows a low slip rate of < 3 mm/yr. We interpret that this low slip rate of the the NMFWQ may be related to the limited convergence transfer and localized deformation in the northernmost margin of the Tibetan Plateau.

  20. PREFACE: Preface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takahashi, Masahiko; Ueda, Kiyoshi

    2011-03-01

    The 17th edition of the International Conference on Many Particle Spectroscopy of Atoms, Molecules, Clusters, and Surfaces (MPS) was held in Sendai, Japan, from September 4-7, 2010. It was the first time that a meeting of this series of biennial conferences was hosted in a non-European country. The conference was attended by 110 researchers (90 regular participants and 20 students) from 15 different countries around the world. The themes that the conference covered can be divided into three broad areas: lepton impact, photon impact and heavy-particle impact. A total of 43 oral presentations - including 2 plenary talks, 29 progress reports and 12 hot topics - and 87 poster presentations were held during the course of the program. Rapid progress both in experimental and theoretical techniques has led to discussions across a broad range of currently hot topics, such as many-body dynamics and electron correlation effects in excitation processes, as well as in single and multiple ionization processes for various kinds of targets including atoms, molecules, clusters, solid state and even biological systems. A snapshot of the present status of many particle spectroscopy is given in this proceedings. The chairs of the conference gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Morino Foundation for Molecular Science, Iwatani Naoji Foundation, Sendai Tourism and Convention Bureau, and Intelligent Cosmos Academic Foundation. They are indebted to the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, for co-hosting the conference, as well as to the international advisory board members for their extremely helpful suggestions to make the program attractive. The united effort of the local organizing committee, involving N Watanabe (Secretary), M Okunishi (Treasurer), H Fukuzawa, M Yamazaki, Y Kino, and N Kishimoto, is also gratefully acknowledged. Without the help of these institutions and individuals it would have been impossible to organize the conference. Finally, the chairs would like to express their thanks to all the participants for contributing to lively and fruitful discussions throughout the conference. Masahiko Takahashi and Kiyoshi Ueda International Advisory Board Lorenzo Avaldi (Italy)Klaus Bartschat (USA) Azzedine Lahmam-Bennani (France)Jamal Berakdar (Germany) Nora Berrah (USA)Igor Bray (Australia) XiangJun Chen (China)Claude Dal Cappello (France) Reinhard Dörner (Germany)Alexander Dorn (Germany) Danielle Dowek (France)Alexey Grum-Grzhimailo (Russia) Noriyuki Kouchi (Japan)Birgit Lohmann (Australia) Don Madison (USA)Fernando Martin (Spain) Andrew Murray (England)Bernard Piraux (Belgium) Roberto Rivarola (Argentina)Emma Sokell (Ireland) Giovanni Stefani (Italy) Conference photograph

  1. Effects of dalcetrapib in patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Gregory G; Olsson, Anders G; Abt, Markus; Ballantyne, Christie M; Barter, Philip J; Brumm, Jochen; Chaitman, Bernard R; Holme, Ingar M; Kallend, David; Leiter, Lawrence A; Leitersdorf, Eran; McMurray, John J V; Mundl, Hardi; Nicholls, Stephen J; Shah, Prediman K; Tardif, Jean-Claude; Wright, R Scott

    2012-11-29

    In observational analyses, higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol have been associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease events. However, whether raising HDL cholesterol levels therapeutically reduces cardiovascular risk remains uncertain. Inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) raises HDL cholesterol levels and might therefore improve cardiovascular outcomes. We randomly assigned 15,871 patients who had had a recent acute coronary syndrome to receive the CETP inhibitor dalcetrapib, at a dose of 600 mg daily, or placebo, in addition to the best available evidence-based care. The primary efficacy end point was a composite of death from coronary heart disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, unstable angina, or cardiac arrest with resuscitation. At the time of randomization, the mean HDL cholesterol level was 42 mg per deciliter (1.1 mmol per liter), and the mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was 76 mg per deciliter (2.0 mmol per liter). Over the course of the trial, HDL cholesterol levels increased from baseline by 4 to 11% in the placebo group and by 31 to 40% in the dalcetrapib group. Dalcetrapib had a minimal effect on LDL cholesterol levels. Patients were followed for a median of 31 months. At a prespecified interim analysis that included 1135 primary end-point events (71% of the projected total number), the independent data and safety monitoring board recommended termination of the trial for futility. As compared with placebo, dalcetrapib did not alter the risk of the primary end point (cumulative event rate, 8.0% and 8.3%, respectively; hazard ratio with dalcetrapib, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.93 to 1.16; P=0.52) and did not have a significant effect on any component of the primary end point or total mortality. The median C-reactive protein level was 0.2 mg per liter higher and the mean systolic blood pressure was 0.6 mm Hg higher with dalcetrapib as compared with placebo (P<0.001 for both comparisons). In patients who had had a recent acute coronary syndrome, dalcetrapib increased HDL cholesterol levels but did not reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche; dal-OUTCOMES ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00658515.).

  2. Genetic and functional analysis of the bovine uterine microbiota. Part II: Purulent vaginal discharge versus healthy cows.

    PubMed

    Bicalho, M L S; Lima, S; Higgins, C H; Machado, V S; Lima, F S; Bicalho, R C

    2017-05-01

    The aim of this study was to characterize, using metagenomic shotgun DNA sequencing, the intrauterine microbial population and its predicted functional diversity within healthy cows and cows presenting purulent vaginal discharge (PVD). Twenty Holstein dairy cows from a single farm were enrolled in the study at 25 to 35 d postpartum. Purulent vaginal discharge was diagnosed by retrieving and scoring vaginal discharge using the Metricheck device (Simcro, Hamilton, New Zealand). Intrauterine samples for metagenomic analysis were collected by the cytobrush technique from 8 cows diagnosed with PVD and 12 healthy cows. Pair-end sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). Metagenomic sequences were analyzed using the MG-RAST server (metagenomic rapid annotations using subsystems technology; http://metagenomics.anl.gov/), and the STAMP software (http://kiwi.cs.dal.ca/Software/STAMP) was used to study statistically significant differential abundance of taxonomic and functional features between the 2 metagenomes. Additionally, the total number of bacterial 16S rDNA copies was estimated by real-time PCR. Taxonomic analysis revealed that Bacteroidetes was the most abundant phylum in the uterine microbiota from cows with PVD, and Fusobacteria was almost completely absent in the healthy uterine microbiota. Moreover, species belonging to the genus Trueperella were present only in the uterine microbiota of PVD cows. The increased abundance of Fusobacteria and the unique presence of Trueperella in the PVD cows highlight the important role of these bacteria in the pathogenesis of PVD. Genes encoding cytolethal distending toxin were exclusive to the microbiota of PVD cows. Similarly, genes associated with lipid A modification were present only in samples from PVD cows; such modification is associated with greater resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides. Conversely, genes encoding bacteriocins and ribosomally antibacterial peptide were exclusively found in the healthy uterine microbiota and dominated by tolerance to colicin E2. No difference was observed in total bacterial load between the 2 microbiotas. This study provides deep insight into the uterine microbial community in health and disease. The observations that the healthy microbiota is tolerant to colicin E2, whereas the uterine microbiota of PVD cows produces cytolethal distending toxins and modifies its lipopolysaccharides suggest that species-intrinsic factors may be more relevant than bacterial abundance to the development of disease or maintenance of health in the dairy cow postpartum uterus. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Seismic microzonation and velocity models of El Ejido area (SE Spain) from the diffuse-field H/V method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    García-Jerez, Antonio; Seivane, Helena; Navarro, Manuel; Piña-Flores, José; Luzón, Francisco; Vidal, Francisco; Posadas, Antonio M.; Aranda, Carolina

    2016-04-01

    El Ejido town is located in the Campo de Dalías coastal plain (Almería province, SE Spain), emplaced in one of the most seismically active regions of Spain. The municipality has 84000 inhabitants and presented a high growth rate during the last twenty years. The most recent intense seismic activity occurred close to this town was in 1993 and 1994, with events of Mb = 4.9 and Mb = 5.0, respectively. To provide a basis for site-specific hazard analysis, we first carried out a seismic microzonation of this town in terms of predominant periods and geotechnical properties. The predominant periods map was obtained from ambient noise observations on a grid of 250 x 250 m in the main urban area, and sparser measurements on the outskirts. These broad-band records, of about 20 minutes long each, were analyzed by using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio technique (H/V). Dispersion curves obtained from two array measurements of ambient noise and borehole data provided additional geophysical information. All the surveyed points in the town were found to have relatively long predominant periods ranging from 0.8 to 2.3 s and growing towards the SE. Secondary high-frequency (> 2Hz) peaks were found at about the 10% of the points only. On the other hand, Vs30 values of 550 - 650 m/s were estimated from the array records, corresponding to cemented sediments and medium-hard rocks. The local S-wave velocity structure has been inverted from the H/V curves for a subset of the measurement sites. We used an innovative full-wavefield method based on the diffuse-wavefield approximation (Sánchez-Sesma et al., 2011) combined with the simulated annealing algorithm. Shallow seismic velocities and deep boreholes data were used as constraints. The results show that the low-frequency resonances are related with the impedance contrast between several hundred meters of medium-hard sedimentary rocks (marls and calcarenites) with the stiffer basement of the basin, which dips to the SE. These results illustrate the case of relatively long resonance periods capable to influence high-rise buildings, the existence of which could not be properly evaluated attending to the geotechnical description at surface. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under grant CGL2014-59908 and by the European Union with FEDER.

  4. Pliocene and Quaternary Deposits in the Northern Part of the San Juan Basin in Southwestern Colorado and Northwestern New Mexico

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Scott, Glenn R.; Moore, David W.

    2007-01-01

    Unconsolidated late Cenozoic deposits in the northern part of the San Juan Basin range in age from late Pliocene to Holocene. Most of the deposits are alluvial gravel composed of resistant quartzite, sandstone, and igneous, metamorphic, and volcanic rocks derived from the uplifted central core of the San Juan Mountains 20-50 miles (32-80 kilometers) north of the basin. Alluvial deposits are most voluminous in the Animas Valley, but deposits of gravel of the same general age are present in the La Plata, Florida, Los Pinos, and Piedra River valleys as well. Alluvial gravel forms tabular deposits, generally about 20 feet (6 meters) thick, that are exposed beneath a sequence of terraces at many levels above the rivers. Gravel layers 360 feet (110 meters) or less above the Animas River are glacial outwash. The gravel layers begin at the south toes of end moraines and extend discontinuously downvalley at least 10-20 miles (16-32 kilometers). Farther south, distinction between outwash and nonglacial alluvium is problematical. Alluvial gravel beneath higher terraces does not grade to end moraines. Glacial till forms a series of end moraines at the north edge of the town of Durango. The oldest moraines are farthest downvalley, are higher above the river, and have more mature surficial soils than do moraines farther north. The two youngest moraines, the Animas City moraines, are interpreted to be Pinedale in age. They have narrow, ridgelike crests and form nearly unbroken arcs across the valley floor. Small segments of still more weathered moraines, the Spring Creek moraines, are 170-230 feet (52-70 meters) above the river and are 660-990 feet (200-300 meters) farther downvalley. The oldest moraines, the Durango moraines, are on the north end of the unnamed mesa on which Fort Lewis College is located. The base is about 180 feet (55 meters) above the river. These oldest moraines may be of Bull Lake age. Alluvial fans, pediment gravel, and landslides are scattered at several levels in various valleys within the northern San Juan Basin. Except where the Lava Creek B volcanic ash (0.639 mega-annum) is interbedded in them, these crudely bedded accumulations of sandy or clayey material washed from side drainages and added little to our reconnaissance stratigraphic study. Scattered landslide deposits consist of unsorted, mixed soil and fragments of rock. Loess and local silty and clayey sheetwash alluvium 6-12 feet (2-4 meters) thick form a veneer on low terraces. On higher terraces, such as Red Mesa east of the La Plata River and Florida Mesa east of the Animas River, loess and sheetwash alluvium generally are about 20 feet (6 meters) thick but can be as thick as 40-50 feet (12-15 meters) in places on Florida Mesa. When using the Lava Creek B volcanic ash as a time datum, apparently the timing of late Cenozoic continental deposition in the region was broadly similar to that in the Denver Basin-Front Range region and some other glaciated mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountains. A more accurate dating of Quaternary alluviation must await a thorough dating of the deposits. Thick, extensive outwash gravel indicates enhanced deposition during glacial epochs.

  5. Calibrazioni a terra e prestazioni in volo di spettrometri ad immagine nel visibile e nel vicino infrarosso per l'esplorazione planetaria

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Filacchione, Gianrico

    2006-10-01

    Nel corso dell’ultimo decennio l’esplorazione planetaria ha potuto beneficiare dei dati prodotti dagli spettrometri ad immagine: grazie a questa nuova classe di strumenti, realizzati per l’osservazione in remoto di superfici ed atmosfere planetarie, è possibile acquisire dati iperspettrali con elevati poteri risolutivi spaziali e spettrali. Il principale vantaggio offerto dagli spettrometri ad immagine, rispetto alle camere ed agli spettrometri puntuali, è rappresentato dalla capacità di misurare, identificare e mappare le unità composizionali delle superfici planetarie; queste informazioni permettono di investigare sia l’evoluzione geochimica delle superfici sia la dinamica e la composizione delle atmosfere. Sebbene i primi spettrometri ad immagine siano stati francesi (Phobos/ISM, Imaging Spectrometer for Mars) e statunitensi (Galileo/NIMS, Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer), il nostro paese nel corso degli ultimi anni è stato in grado di proporre alla com unità spaziale internazionale degli strumenti dalle elevate prestazioni che sono stati infatti accettati come payload scientifici su diverse missioni interplanetarie: dai canali visibili di VIMS (Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) su Cassini (Nasa, JPL, ESA, ASI) e di OMEGA (Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l’Eau, les Glacies et l’Activitè de Mars) su MarsExpress (ESA) ai due VIRTIS (Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer) su Rosetta (ESA) e VenusExpress (ESA) fino a VIR-MS (Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) su Dawn (Nasa). In questo momento inoltre altri due spettrometri sono in avanzata fase di studio: JIRAM (Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper) su Juno (missione New Discovery Nasa) e VIHI (Visible and Infrared Hyperspectral Imager) integrato nel payload italiano di remote sensing SIMBIO-SYS di BepiColombo (missione cornerstone ESA). La realizzazione di uno spettrometro ad immagini da utilizzare su una missione interplanetaria richiede un’accurata analisi in fase progettuale e realizzativa dei parametri e de lle prestazioni strumentali; in generale infatti non solo sarà necessario mantenere le dimensioni, il peso, i consumi elettrici ed il data-volume entro i requisiti disponibili del satellite ma anche ottimizzare i disegni ottici, meccanici ed elettronici al fine di ottenere le massime prestazioni possibili in funzione della natura del target osservato e dei parametri orbitali della missione. Questa tesi descrive i metodi utilizzati per caratterizzare il funzionamento di spettrometri ad immagine per l’esplorazione planetaria. L’attività svolta ha riguardato sia la misura in laboratorio dei parametri strumentali fondamentali sia l’analisi dei dati in volo su cui verificarne ed eventualmente correggerne la risposta. Il funzionamento degli strumenti e la metodologia di calibrazione vengono descritti nelle due parti principali e nelle appendici di questa tesi per gli esperimenti Cassini-VIMS-V e Rosetta-VIRTIS-M. La prima parte è dedicata all’esperimento VIMS-V sul satellite Cassini, il cui disegno ottico, originariamente proposto da Francis Reininger, verrà successivamente riutilizzato e perfezionato su VIRTIS-M (Reininger et al., 1994; Miller et al., 1996). Il capitolo 1 contiene una descrizione dei parametri ottici, strutturali, termici ed elettronici di VIMS-V mettendone in risalto gli aspetti più innovativi del progetto. Vengono inoltre descritti la collocazione dell’esperimento sul satellite Cassini, il coallineamento con gli altri strumenti di remote sensing, i possibili modi operativi ed il formato dei dati scientifici. Il capitolo 2 riguarda il processo di calibrazione ed analisi dei dati in volo di VIMS-V. La procedura eseguita per calibrare radiometricamente lo strumento utilizzando i dati della superficie della Luna e per stimare il flat-field mediante i dati dell’atmosfera di Venere viene dettagliatamente descritta assieme agli algoritmi utilizzati per la rimozione di diversi effetti strumentali (read-out noise e tilt spettrale); alcuni di questi effetti sono stati caratterizzati e dettagliamente misurati in laboratorio utilizzando il modello spare (flight) di VIMS-V. Parte del capitolo è dedicata alla verifica della procedura di calibrazione su diversi target aventi caratteristiche spettroradiometriche note. Questi algoritmi di processamento sono correntemente utilizzati dal team scientifico di VIMS per calibrare i dati del canale -VIS rilasciati ufficialmente alla comunità scientifica internazionale attraverso il Planetary Data System (PDS) della Nasa. La seconda parte riguarda l’esperimento VIRTIS-M sul satellite Rosetta. Il capitolo 3 contiene la descrizione dello strumento mettendo in risalto l’evoluzione dal precedente progetto VIMS-V ed i problemi tecnologici e costruttivi da questo derivanti. I diversi modi operativi, la sequenza di acquisizione e di processamento dei dati nell’elettronica principale sono ampiament e discussi. Viene inoltre evidenziata la collocazione dello spettrometro sul satellite Rosetta. Nel capitolo 4 viene descritta l’attività di calibrazione effettuata in Galileo Avionica (Campi Bisenzio, FI, Italia) ed allo IAS (Orsay, Francia) subito dopo l’integrazione di VIRTIS ed il conseguente processamento dei dati necessario per ricavare i principali parametri di funzionamento (calibrazioni spettrali e geometriche, flat-field, funzioni di trasferimento, lampade di calibrazione interne). Nel capitolo 5 l’accuratezza di queste grandezze è stata verificata su i primi dati in volo ottenuti da VIRTIS-M durante la fase di commissioning e di cruise del satellite (Terra, Luna e Saturno); queste osservazioni sono inoltre state utilizzate per migliorare e verificare alcuni aspetti della procedura di calibrazione che non erano stati sufficientemente definiti durante i test a terra. L’appendice A riguarda il formato PDS (Planetary Data System) utilizzato per l’archiviazione dei dati e degli housekeepings ingegnerisitici e scientifici delle osservazioni; nell’appendice B è contenuta la descrizione del modello radiometrico teorico di VIRTIS-M utilizzato per stimare il rapporto segnale/rumore; nelle appendici C e D sono infine contenute diverse Tabelle non incluse nel testo delle parti principali a causa della loro lunghezza.

  6. Studies on the Effect of Sub-zero Temperatures on the Formation of Extremely Low Volatility Dimer Esters in Secondary Organic Aerosol from Alpha-Pinene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kristensen, Kasper; Normann Jensen, Louise; Bilde, Merete

    2016-04-01

    The oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) is considered a major source of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the atmosphere. Recently, extremely low volatility organic compounds, or ELVOC, formed from the oxidation of VOCs have been shown to play a crucial role in new particle formation (Ehn et al., 2014). In addition, higher molecular weight dimer esters originating from the oxidation of the biogenic VOC alpha-pinene have been observed in both laboratory-generated and ambient SOA (Kristensen et al., 2013). The low volatility of the dimer esters along with an observed rapid formation makes these high molecular weight compounds likely candidates involved in new particle formation from the oxidation of alpha-pinene. Furthermore, laboratory experiments show that the dimer esters only form in the presence of ozone, thus may be used as tracers for the ozone-initiated oxidation of alpha-pinene, and are therefore indicative of enhanced anthropogenic activities. In this work, we present the results of a series of oxidation experiments performed in the newly constructed cold-room smog chamber at Aarhus University. This unique and state-of-the-art Teflon chamber allows for atmospheric simulations of the oxidation VOCs and subsequent SOA formation at temperatures down to -16 °C. In this study, ozonolysis and photochemical oxidations of alpha-pinene are performed at temperatures ranging from +20 to -16 °C. Chemical characterization of the formed SOA is performed using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The results show significant differences in the chemical composition related to the experiment temperature. In particularly, the concentration of the high molecular weight dimer esters showed to be highly affected by temperature. Interestingly, preliminary results show higher formation of dimer esters related to increased SOA formation rate, thus indicating that these particle-phase ELVOCs may be linked with new particle formation. Ehn, M., Thornton, J. A., Kleist, E., Sipila, M., Junninen, H., Pullinen, I., Springer, M., Rubach, F., Tillmann, R., Lee, B., Lopez-Hilfiker, F., Andres, S., Acir, I. H., Rissanen, M., Jokinen, T., Schobesberger, S., Kangasluoma, J., Kontkanen, J., Nieminen, T., Kurten, T., Nielsen, L. B., Jorgensen, S., Kjaergaard, H. G., Canagaratna, M., Dal Maso, M., Berndt, T., Petaja, T., Wahner, A., Kerminen, V. M., Kulmala, M., Worsnop, D. R., Wildt, J., and Mentel, T. F.: A large source of low-volatility secondary organic aerosol, Nature, 506, 476-+, 10.1038/nature13032, 2014. Kristensen, K., Enggrob, K. L., King, S. M., Worton, D. R., Platt, S. M., Mortensen, R., Rosenoern, T., Surratt, J. D., Bilde, M., Goldstein, A. H., and Glasius, M.: Formation and occurrence of dimer esters of pinene oxidation products in atmospheric aerosols, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 13, 3763-3776, 2013.

  7. PREFACE: International Conference on Many Particle Spectroscopy of Atoms, Molecules, Clusters and Surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dowek, Danielle; Bennani, Azzedine; Lablanquie, Pascal; Maquet, Alfred

    2008-12-01

    The 2008 edition of the International Conference on Many Particle Spectroscopy of Atoms, Molecules, Clusters and Surfaces was held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2008. This biennial conference alternates with the International Symposium on (e,2e), Double Photoionization and Related Topics which is a satellite of the International Conference on Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions (ICPEAC) conference. Over 110 participants from 20 countries gathered to examine the latest developments in the field of radiation interactions with matter. These include electron-electron correlation effects in excitation and in single and multiple ionization of atoms, molecules, clusters and surfaces with various projectiles: electrons, photons and ions. The present proceedings gathers the contributions of invited speakers and is intended to provide a detailed state-of-the-art account of the various facets of the field. Special thanks are due to Université Paris Sud XI, CNRS, and the laboratories LCAM, LIXAM and LCPMR which provided financial support for the organization of the conference. We are also grateful to the contribution of the companies Varian and RoentDek Handels GmbH. Guest Editors: Danielle Dowek and Azzedine Bennani LCAM, Université Paris Sud XI, France Pascal Lablanquie and Alfred Maquet LCPMR, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Lorenzo Avaldi, (Italy) Alexei Grum Grzhimailo, (Russia) Klaus Bartschat, (USA) Nikolai Kabachnik, (Russia) Jamal Berakdar, (Germany) Birgit Lohmann, (Australia) Nora Berrah, (USA) Don H Madison, (USA) Michael Brunger, (Australia) Francis Penent, (France) Albert Crowe, (UK) Bernard Piraux, (Belgium) Claude Dal Cappello, (France) Roberto Rivarola, (Argentina) JingKang Deng, (China) Emma Sokkel, (Ireland) Alexander Dorn, (Germany) Giovanni Stefani, (Italy) Reinhardt Dorner, (Germany) Noboru Watanabe, (Japan) François Frémont, (France) LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Azzedine BENNANI (Chair) - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Danielle DOWEK (co-Chair) - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Bernadette ROME (Secretary) - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Elena Magdalena STAICU CASAGRANDE - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Alain HUETZ - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Laurence MALEGAT - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Michael MEYER - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Adnan NAJA - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Yan PICARD - Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay Lidija ANDRIC - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Alain DUBOIS - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Pascal LABLANQUIE - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Alfred MAQUET - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Francis PENENT - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Patricia SELLES - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Marc SIMON - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Conference photograph

  8. Uranium isotopic compositions of the crust and ocean: Age corrections, U budget and global extent of modern anoxia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tissot, François L. H.; Dauphas, Nicolas

    2015-10-01

    The 238U/235U isotopic composition of uranium in seawater can provide important insights into the modern U budget of the oceans. Using the double spike technique and a new data reduction method, we analyzed an array of seawater samples and 41 geostandards covering a broad range of geological settings relevant to low and high temperature geochemistry. Analyses of 18 seawater samples from geographically diverse sites from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Persian Gulf, and English Channel, together with literature data (n = 17), yield a δ238U value for modern seawater of -0.392 ± 0.005‰ relative to CRM-112a. Measurements of the uranium isotopic compositions of river water, lake water, evaporites, modern coral, shales, and various igneous rocks (n = 64), together with compilations of literature data (n = 380), allow us to estimate the uranium isotopic compositions of the various reservoirs involved in the modern oceanic uranium budget, as well as the fractionation factors associated with U incorporation into those reservoirs. Because the incorporation of U into anoxic/euxinic sediments is accompanied by large isotopic fractionation (ΔAnoxic/Euxinic-SW = +0.6‰), the size of the anoxic/euxinic sink strongly influences the δ238U value of seawater. Keeping all other fluxes constant, the flux of uranium in the anoxic/euxinic sink is constrained to be 7.0 ± 3.1 Mmol/yr (or 14 ± 3% of the total flux out of the ocean). This translates into an areal extent of anoxia into the modern ocean of 0.21 ± 0.09% of the total seafloor. This agrees with independent estimates and rules out a recent uranium budget estimate by Henderson and Anderson (2003). Using the mass fractions and isotopic compositions of various rock types in Earth's crust, we further calculate an average δ238U isotopic composition for the continental crust of -0.29 ± 0.03‰ corresponding to a 238U/235U isotopic ratio of 137.797 ± 0.005. We discuss the implications of the variability of the 238U/235U ratio on Pb-Pb and U-Pb ages and provide analytical formulas to calculate age corrections as a function of the age and isotopic composition of the sample. The crustal ratio may be used in calculation of Pb-Pb and U-Pb ages of continental crust rocks and minerals when the U isotopic composition is unknown. In cosmochemistry, the search for 247Cm (t1/2 = 15.6 Myr), an extinct short-lived radionuclide that decays into 235U, is important for understanding how r-process nuclides were synthesized in stars and learning about the astrophysical context of solar system formation (Chen and Wasserburg, 1981; Wasserburg et al., 1996; Nittler and Dauphas, 2006; Brennecka et al., 2010b; Tissot et al., 2015). In both terrestrial and extraterrestrial samples, variations in the 238U/235U ratio affect Pb-Pb ages (and depending on the analytical protocols, U-Pb ages). Therefore, samples dated by these techniques need to have their U isotopic compositions measured (Stirling et al., 2005, 2006; Weyer et al., 2008; Amelin et al., 2010; Brennecka et al., 2010b; Brennecka and Wadhwa, 2012; Connelly et al., 2012; Goldmann et al., 2015) or uncertainties on the U isotopic composition should be propagated into age calculations. In low temperature aqueous geochemistry, U isotopic fractionation between U4+ and U6+ (driven in part by nuclear field shift effects; Bigeleisen, 1996; Schauble, 2007; Abe et al., 2008), makes U isotopes potential tracers of paleoredox conditions (Montoya-Pino et al., 2010; Brennecka et al., 2011a; Kendall et al., 2013, 2015; Asael et al., 2013; Andersen et al., 2014; Dahl et al., 2014; Goto et al., 2014; Noordmann et al., 2015). The present paper aims at constraining some aspects of the global budget of uranium in the modern oceans using 238U/235U isotope variations, which involves characterizing the U isotopic composition of seawater and several reservoirs involved in the uranium oceanic budget. Uranium can exist in two oxidation states in terrestrial surface environments: U4+ is insoluble in seawater while U6+ is soluble (Langmuir, 1978). The contrasting behaviors of the two oxidation states of uranium explains why the disappearance of detrital uraninite after the Archean marks the rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere/hydrosphere (Ramdohr, 1958; Rasmussen and Buick, 1999; Frimmel, 2005). More recently, significant effort has focused on using U isotopes to constrain the past extents of anoxic/euxinic vs. oxic or suboxic sediments in modern and ancient oceans (Montoya-Pino et al., 2010; Brennecka et al., 2011a; Asael et al., 2013; Kendall et al., 2013, 2015; Andersen et al., 2014; Dahl et al., 2014; Goto et al., 2014; Noordmann et al., 2015). A virtue of this system is that it can potentially reflect the global redox state of Earth's oceans. At the same time, several difficulties have been encountered in applying U isotopes as paleo-redox indicators. For example, detrital contributions can blur the authigenic signal and have to be corrected for (Asael et al., 2013; Andersen et al., 2014; Noordmann et al., 2015), uranium isotopes can be affected by diagenesis and exchange with porewater (Romaniello et al., 2013; Andersen et al., 2014), and the exact isotopic fractionation factors relevant to various conditions of deposition are uncertain. While significant progress has already been made to address these difficulties (Asael et al., 2013; Romaniello et al., 2013; Andersen et al., 2014; Noordmann et al., 2015), this system and others are missing some of the groundwork studies on modern environments that are needed to gain trust in their applications to ancient sediments.In the modern ocean, water-soluble uranium behaves conservatively (i.e., U concentration correlates linearly to water salinity, Ku et al., 1977; Owens et al., 2011) and has a long residence time of ∼400 kyr (Ku et al., 1977). The ocean is therefore a large repository of uranium, exceeding the total inventory of land-based deposits (Lu, 2014). The riverine input (40-46 Mmol/yr) is balanced by several sinks; including suboxic sediments, anoxic/euxinic sediments, carbonates, altered oceanic crust, salt marshes and Fe-Mn nodules. Barnes and Cochran (1990), Morford and Emerson (1999), Dunk et al. (2002), and Henderson and Anderson (2003) each proposed estimates for the oceanic uranium budget that differ substantially in the fluxes that they use. Uranium isotopes are sensitive to ocean redox conditions because uranium removal in anoxic/euxinic sediments imparts large uranium isotopic fractionation, so that the areal extent of this sink influences greatly the U isotopic composition of seawater relative to the riverine input. In the present paper, we report double-spike uranium isotopic measurements of 18 seawater samples, 18 continental crust lithologies, 7 individual minerals, 6 oyster samples, 3 modern evaporites samples, 2 lake water samples, 1 large river water sample and 1 coral sample. These measurements are supplemented by compilations of literature data. With this large data set (n = 444), we are able to constrain the flux of uranium into anoxic/euxinic sediments, as well as the global extent of anoxia in the modern ocean (percent of seafloor covered by anoxic/euxinic sediments). Our findings compare well with independent estimates and rule out the most recent U budget of Henderson and Anderson (2003).As part of our effort, we also present a data reduction method for double-spike measurements that is both comprehensive in the way the errors are propagated and simple to implement.

  9. Adaptive Flow Management in Regulated Rivers: Successes and Challenges (Invited)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Robinson, C. T.; Melis, T. S.; Kennedy, T.; Korman, J.; Ortlepp, J.

    2013-12-01

    Experimental high flows are becoming common management actions in rivers affected by large dams. When implemented under clear objectives and goals, experimental flows provide opportunities for long-term ecological successes but also impose various ecological challenges as systems shift under environmental change or from human-related actions. We present case studies from long-term adaptive flow management programs on the River Spöl, Switzerland and the Colorado River, USA, both of which are regulated by high dams and flow through National Parks. The management goals in each system differ thus reflecting the different high flow practices implemented over time. Regulated flows in the Spöl reflect a compromise between hydropower needs and ecology (native brown trout fishery), whereas Glen Canyon Dam flows have mainly been directed towards maintenance of river beaches in Grand Canyon National Park with co-management of both nonnative rainbow trout in the tailwater immediately below the dam and downstream endangered native fish of Grand Canyon also an objective. Some 24 experimental floods have occurred on the Spöl over the last 13 years, resulting in a positive effect on the trout fishery and a zoobenthic assemblage having a more typical alpine stream composition. The system has experienced various shifts in assemblage composition over time with the last shift occurring 7 years after the initial floods. A major challenge occurred in spring 2013 with an accidental release of fine sediments from the reservoir behind Punt dal Gall Dam, causing high fish mortality and smothering of the river bottom. Results showed that the effect was pronounced near the dam and gradually lessened downriver to the lower reservoir. Zoobenthic assemblages displayed relatively high resistance to the event and some fish found refugia in the lower reservoir and larger side tributaries, thus projecting a faster recovery than initially thought. Below Glen Canyon dam, benefits to sandbars have been marginal since experimental constrained hydropower releases began in 1991 and controlled floods began in 1996 (7 have been released through 2012), while native fish populations have increased, although apparently not in response to flows. However, nonnative rainbow trout have been shown to increase in abundance repeatedly below Glen Canyon Dam in response to both controlled floods and more stable flows, both of which were originally proposed to benefit Grand Canyon beaches. Survival of trout fry following the 2008 spring flood was apparently tied to increased abundance of benthic invertebrates in the tailwater. Expansion of nonnative trout in response to high flows pose a potential threat to native fish downstream through competition for limited food and habitat, and through predation of juvenile native fish. Challenges are presented for each system in terms of flow implementation under hydropower needs (Spöl) and environmental change (Colorado). We close with perspectives on improving adaptive flow management actions in regulated rivers as learning-based, long-term ecological experiments.

  10. Influence of hillslope-channel coupling on two mountain headwater streams, Swiss National Park, Switzerland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schoch, Anna; Hoffmann, Thomas; Dikau, Richard

    2014-05-01

    Sediment fluxes in mountain headwater streams are strongly conditioned by sediment supply from hillslopes and thus hillslope-channel coupling, defined as linkages connecting slopes and channels through sediment transport processes. Sediment supply from hillslopes can have major influences on channel characteristics. The main goal of my research is to achieve a better understanding of these influences on mountain headwater streams in two study areas. This is conducted through the investigation of "channel-reach morphology" according to MONTGOMERY AND BUFFINGTON (1997), morphometric and sedimentological characteristics of the channels and analysis of the slope-channel coupling system. The study was conducted in two valleys in the Swiss National Park, i.e. Val dal Botsch (VdB) and Val Mueschauns (VMu). In both headwaters slopes and channel are coupled effectively due to the small spatial vicinity and frequent debris flow processes connecting the two system components. Both catchments were glaciated in the Pleistocene but show contrasting glacial imprints today. While VdB has a V-shaped morphometry that is dominated by unconsolidated sediments (mainly talus and moraine material), VMu is U-shaped in the upper valley segments and the surface is mainly covered with bedrock. Several methods for data collection and analyses were used: (1) Channel-reach morphology classification, (2) DEM-based analysis of long profiles, ksn-values, slope-area plots and measurement of cross sections in the field, (3) investigation of sedimentological characteristics with pebble counts as well as (4) mapping of recent linkages between slopes and channel and determination of connectivity (effectivity of coupling) using a heuristic approach. The results show that sediment input into both headwater streams is dominated by debris flows. The debris flow catchments, as parts of the slope system, have the highest connectivity to the channels. Channel changes are greatest where debris flows cause massive sediment input. Channel changes include an increase in sediment size and density of boulders, a decline in grain roundness and particle sorting as well as slope steepening and alterations of cross sections due to channel incision into the deposited debris flow material. Channel-reach morphology can be modified as well, e.g. from step pool to cascade. The intensity of the influence on channels varies among the investigated debris flows. A comparison of the larger debris flows reveals that debris flows with catchments dominated by bedrock and large areal extend (absolute and relative to main channel drainage area) have the strongest influence on channels. These results suggest that the variable influence on the channel is linked to differences in the Pleistocene glacial imprint of the two study areas. Geomorphic heritage plays a crucial role in recent alpine systems. Reference: MONTGOMERY, D. R. AND J. M. BUFFINGTON (1997): Channel-reach morphology in mountain drainage basins. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 109 (5), 596-611.

  11. Three-dimensional imaging of sediment cores: a multi-scale approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deprez, Maxim; Van Daele, Maarten; Boone, Marijn; Anselmetti, Flavio; Cnudde, Veerle

    2017-04-01

    Downscaling is a method used in building-material research, where several imaging methods are applied to obtain information on the petrological and petrophysical properties of materials from a centimetre to a sub-micrometre scale (De Boever et al., 2015). However, to reach better resolutions, the sample size is necessarily adjusted as well. If, for instance, X-ray micro computed tomography (µCT) is applied on the material, the resolution can increase as the sample size decreases. In sedimentological research, X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a commonly used technique (Cnudde & Boone, 2013). The ability to visualise materials with different X-ray attenuations reveals structures in sediment cores that cannot be seen with the bare eye. This results in discoveries of sedimentary structures that can lead to a reconstruction of parts of the depositional history in a sedimentary basin (Van Daele et al., 2014). Up to now, most of the CT data used for this kind of research are acquired with a medical CT scanner, of which the highest obtainable resolution is about 250 µm (Cnudde et al., 2006). As the size of most sediment grains is smaller than 250 µm, a lot of information, concerning sediment fabric, grain-size and shape, is not obtained when using medical CT. Therefore, downscaling could be a useful method in sedimentological research. After identifying a region of interest within the sediment core with medical CT, a subsample of several millimetres diameter can be taken and imaged with µCT, allowing images with a resolution of a few micrometres. The subsampling process, however, needs to be considered thoroughly. As the goal is to image the structure and fabric of the sediments, deformation of the sediments during subsampling should be avoided as much as possible. After acquiring the CT data, image processing and analysis are performed in order to retrieve shape and orientation parameters of single grains, mud clasts and organic material. This single-grain data can then be combined for a physical layer of sediments to collect data on the sediment fabric within the subsample. Additionally, it can be upscaled further to help reconstructing the depositional history of the sedimentary basin. As a proof of principle, a workflow was developed on an oriented sediment core retrieved from Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. After identifying a megaturbidite with medical CT, a part of that deposit was subsampled using a U-channel with a cross section of 2 by 2 cm, to perform a high-resolution µCT scan. The resulting 3D images with a spatial resolution of 15.2 µm enable us to attribute absolute flow directions to sand layers from different pulses within the turbidite. Yet, the limits of this method have not been explored fully, as applying different sampling methods can lead to higher resolutions and, therefore, more revelations on smaller-grained sediments. References: Cnudde, V., Masschaele, B., Dierick, M., Vlassenbroeck, J., Van Hoorebeke, L., Jacobs, P. (2006). Recent progress in X-ray CT as a geoscience tool. Applied Geochemistry, 21(5), 826-832. Cnudde, V., Boone, M. (2013). High-resolution X-ray computed tomography in geosciences: a review of the current technology and applications. Earth-science reviews, 123, 1-17. De Boever, W., Derluyn, H., Van Loo, D., Van Hoorebeke, L., Cnudde, V. (2015). Data-fusion of high resolution X-ray CT, SEM and EDS for 3D and pseudo-3D chemical and structural characterization of sandstone. Micron, 74, 15-21. Van Daele, M., Cnudde, V., Duyck, P., Pino, M. (2014). Multidirectional, synchronously triggered seismo-turbiditesand debrites revealed by X-ray computed tomography. Sedimentology, 61, 861-880

  12. Zarzalejo granite (Spain). A nomination for 'Global Heritage Stone Resource'

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Freire Lista, David Martin; Fort, Rafael; José Varas-Muriel, María

    2015-04-01

    Zarzalejo granite is quarried in the Sierra de Guadarrama (Spanish Central System) foothills, in and around Zarzalejo village, in the province of Madrid, Spain. It is an inequigranular monzogranite medium-to-coarse grained, with a slight porphyritic texture (feldspar phenocrysts) and mafic micro-grained enclaves. In this abstract the candidacy of Zarzalejo granite as a "Global Heritage Resource Stone" (GHSR) is presented. This stone ideally fits the newly proposed designation as it has been used in many heritage buildings and its good petrophysical properties and durability have allowed well preserved constructions such as a Roman road, San Pedro Church in Zarzalejo (1492), Descalzas Reales Monastery in Madrid (1559-1564) and the San Lorenzo del Escorial Royal Monastery (1563-1584), to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This level of construction has been a landmark in the extraction and proliferation of historic quarries created due to the high demand that such colossal monuments and buildings with granite, have required for their construction. In the mid-20th century, More, Zarzalejo granite has also been used in restoration works including the Royal Palace and the Reina Sofía Museum (2001-2005), both buildings in Madrid, Spain. Extraction of granite ashlars from tors has been a very frequent activity in the Zarzalejo neighbourhood until mid-twentieth century. So there is also a need to preserve these historic quarries. This type of stone has created a landscape that has been preserved as an open-air museum today where you can see the marks left in the granite due to historic quarry operations. The granite industry has been one of the main pillars of the Zarzalejo regional economy. For centuries, the local community have been engaged in quarrying and have created a cultural landscape based on its building stone. A quarryman monument has been erected in Zarzalejo in honor of this traditional craft as well as an architecture museum at San Lorenzo del Escorial Monastery, which shows the building material used during its construction. There is currently an active quarry of this dimension stone which continues to be sold under the commercial name of "Gris Escorial". Zarzalejo granite is mainly exported to Turkey, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Today this stone is used primarily in flooring. Other uses include cobblestones, funeral art, and building and monument restoration and rehabilitation. Sculptures have also built in recent years, notably the great monoliths in Salvador Dalí Square (1989) in Madrid. There are also small historic family-run quarries intermittently continuing this dimension stone carving tradition. Given its characteristics, Zarzalejo granite meets the requisites proposed to be nominated as a GHSR. This nomination will contribute to raising awareness and disseminate key aspects for conservation and thus ensure its use as a replacement stone in restoring heritage buildings where it was used as a building stone. Acknowledgements This study was funded by the Community of Madrid under the GEOMATERIALS 2 project (S2013/MIT-2914). The authors are members of the Complutense University of Madrid's Research Group: "Alteración y Conservación de los Materiales Pétreos del Patrimonio" (ref. 921349).

  13. Why Occam's razor doesn't work for atmospheric methane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Manning, Martin; Brailsford, Gordon; Dlugokencky, Ed; Moss, Rowena; Nisbet, Euan; Schaefer, Hinrich; White, James

    2017-04-01

    With the CH4 mole fraction in clean air increasing since 2007, after being relatively stable for seven years, there are a growing number of papers with different explanations. Examples include: a continuing debate about the fraction of CH4 coming from fossil fuels[1] and whether this source is increasing[2]. Then, more generally, whether increasing sources are predominantly anthropogenic[3,4] or from tropical wetlands[5-7]; and that increasing sources may also be competing with increasing removal rates[8,9]. The increasing amount of δ13CCH4 data and the recent reversal of its long-term trend should help to clarify changes in the CH4 budget, but δ13C has both nonlinear and longer term responses to changes in sources or removal than the mole fraction[10]. Furthermore, the seasonal cycle in δ13CCH4 means that it is never in equilibrium and that its short-term response to a budget change depends on the time of year when that occurs. Then to complicate matters further, while it has been shown that changes in the total removal rate cannot explain the recent δ13CCH4 observations[7], changes in the more highly fractionating removal by Cl can produce very similar responses to changes in the sources. So far changes in the CH4 budget are only in the order of 3%, but its mole fraction is diverging from scenarios that achieve the 2°C climate change target, and at the upper end of the range considered in climate models. To understand the reasons for this requires a multidisciplinary approach with clearer links to atmospheric chemistry, more analyses of potential changes in methanogenic and methanotrophic processes, and resolving the major discrepancies between current bottom-up and top-down CH4 budget analyses. One contribution to this comes from the last 26 years of Southern Hemisphere 14CO data that are now showing OH has been quite stable, despite a large perturbation caused by the Mount Pinatubo eruption. This is also suggesting that trends seen in atmospheric transport[11,12] may now be altering the balance between sources and removal. 1. Schwietzke, S. et al. Nature 538, 88-91 (2016). 2. Hausmann, P., et al. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 16, 3227-3244 (2016). 3. Bergamaschi, P. et al. Journal of Geophysical Research 118, 7350-7369 (2013). 4. Schaefer, H. et al. Science 352, 80-84 (2016). 5. Bousquet, P. et al. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 11, 3689-3700 (2011). 6. Houweling, S. et al. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 14, 3991-4012 (2014). 7. Nisbet, E. G. et al. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 13, 1356-1370 (2016). 8. Dalsøren, S. B. et al. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 16, 3099-3126 (2016). 9. Ghosh, A. et al. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 15, 2595-2612 (2015). 10. Tans, P. P. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 11, 77-81 (1997). 11. Min, S.-K. & Son, S.-W. Journal of Geophysical Research 118, 3007-3015 (2013). 12. Eyring, V. et al. Journal of Geophysical Research 118, 5029-5060 (2013).

  14. Social Media Impact of the Food and Drug Administration's Drug Safety Communication Messaging About Zolpidem: Mixed-Methods Analysis.

    PubMed

    Sinha, Michael S; Freifeld, Clark C; Brownstein, John S; Donneyong, Macarius M; Rausch, Paula; Lappin, Brian M; Zhou, Esther H; Dal Pan, Gerald J; Pawar, Ajinkya M; Hwang, Thomas J; Avorn, Jerry; Kesselheim, Aaron S

    2018-01-05

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues drug safety communications (DSCs) to health care professionals, patients, and the public when safety issues emerge related to FDA-approved drug products. These safety messages are disseminated through social media to ensure broad uptake. The objective of this study was to assess the social media dissemination of 2 DSCs released in 2013 for the sleep aid zolpidem. We used the MedWatcher Social program and the DataSift historic query tool to aggregate Twitter and Facebook posts from October 1, 2012 through August 31, 2013, a period beginning approximately 3 months before the first DSC and ending 3 months after the second. Posts were categorized as (1) junk, (2) mention, and (3) adverse event (AE) based on a score between -0.2 (completely unrelated) to 1 (perfectly related). We also looked at Google Trends data and Wikipedia edits for the same time period. Google Trends search volume is scaled on a range of 0 to 100 and includes "Related queries" during the relevant time periods. An interrupted time series (ITS) analysis assessed the impact of DSCs on the counts of posts with specific mention of zolpidem-containing products. Chow tests for known structural breaks were conducted on data from Twitter, Facebook, and Google Trends. Finally, Wikipedia edits were pulled from the website's editorial history, which lists all revisions to a given page and the editor's identity. In total, 174,286 Twitter posts and 59,641 Facebook posts met entry criteria. Of those, 16.63% (28,989/174,286) of Twitter posts and 25.91% (15,453/59,641) of Facebook posts were labeled as junk and excluded. AEs and mentions represented 9.21% (16,051/174,286) and 74.16% (129,246/174,286) of Twitter posts and 5.11% (3,050/59,641) and 68.98% (41,138/59,641) of Facebook posts, respectively. Total daily counts of posts about zolpidem-containing products increased on Twitter and Facebook on the day of the first DSC; Google searches increased on the week of the first DSC. ITS analyses demonstrated variability but pointed to an increase in interest around the first DSC. Chow tests were significant (P<.0001) for both DSCs on Facebook and Twitter, but only the first DSC on Google Trends. Wikipedia edits occurred soon after each DSC release, citing news articles rather than the DSC itself and presenting content that needed subsequent revisions for accuracy. Social media offers challenges and opportunities for dissemination of the DSC messages. The FDA could consider strategies for more actively disseminating DSC safety information through social media platforms, particularly when announcements require updating. The FDA may also benefit from directly contributing content to websites like Wikipedia that are frequently accessed for drug-related information. ©Michael S Sinha, Clark C Freifeld, John S Brownstein, Macarius M Donneyong, Paula Rausch, Brian M Lappin, Esther H Zhou, Gerald J Dal Pan, Ajinkya M Pawar, Thomas J Hwang, Jerry Avorn, Aaron S Kesselheim. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (http://publichealth.jmir.org), 05.01.2018.

  15. Developpement d'un catalyseur nickel-alumine efficace pour le reformage de diesel a la vapeur d'eau et etude du systeme reactionnel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fauteux-Lefebvre, Clemence

    Le developpement de sources d'energie alternatives fiables et efficaces est aujourd'hui une necessite. L' interet dans le reformage d'hydrocarbures liquides est ainsi croissant puisqu'il s'agit d'une voie pour l'alimentation des piles a combustible. Les piles a combustible ont une efficacite pour la conversion d'energie en electricite plus grande que celle des moteurs a combustion et font ainsi partie de la recherche de solution en efficacite energetique. Ces piles consomment de l'hydrogene comme combustible pour produire de l'electricite, d'ou l'interet pour le reformage. En effet, cette reaction permet de produire de l'hydrogene et du monoxyde de carbone (un autre combustible des piles a combustible a electrolyte solide) a partir d'hydrocarbure liquide, notamment le diesel. Les piles pourraient donc etre integrees avec une unite de reformage leur fournissant directement le combustible necessaire a partir de diesel. Dans ce projet de recherche, un nouveau catalyseur de nickel sous forme de spinelle nickel-alumine (spinelle NiAl2O4 sur support d'alumine et de zircone stabilisee avec yttria) a ete developpe et teste en laboratoire pour du reformage de propane, d'hydrocarbures liquides et de diesel, a la vapeur d'eau. Par ailleurs, une methode d'ajout des reactifs novatrice a ete utilisee afin de diminuer la pyrolyse precedant le reformage, en utilisant une emulsion. Les resultats de reformage d'hydrocarbures purs ont montre des concentrations tres pres de l'equilibre thermodynamique et une activite constante sans desactivation du catalyseur ni formation de carbone, et ce avec des ratios H2O/C de moins de 2.5 et des temperatures d'operation variant entre 630 °C et 750 °C. Lors de tests effectues en utilisant du diesel fossile, a 705°C, avec un debit volumique des reactifs de plus de 50 000 cm3gcat-1h-1 et un ratio H2O/C de moins de 2.5, l'activite a ete maintenue pendant plus de 15 heures, malgre une operation en cycles. L'analyse du catalyseur apres cette utilisation n'a montre aucun carbone significatif sur la surface.- En comparaison, un catalyseur de nickel metallique sur support d'Al2O3 et YSZ a ete utilise dans des conditions similaires. Il y a eu desactivation du catalyseur et obstruction du reacteur par du carbone apres trois heures d'operation. L'analyse de ce catalyseur a permis de verifier qu'il etait recouvert de carbone en filament. L'analyse du systeme reactionnel a montre que la reaction est controlee par la reaction de. surface et non par le transfert de masse. Par ailleurs, les analyses des catalyseurs de spinelle ont demontre qu'il n'y avait pas de modification de sa forme chimique ni de reduction du spinelle en nickel metallique apres l'utilisation. Mots cles : Reformage a la vapeur, diesel, hydrocarbure liquide, catalyseur, spinelle nickel-alumine, equilibre thermodynamique

  16. Astronomical virtual observatory and the place and role of Bulgarian one

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Petrov, Georgi; Dechev, Momchil; Slavcheva-Mihova, Luba; Duchlev, Peter; Mihov, Bojko; Kochev, Valentin; Bachev, Rumen

    2009-07-01

    Virtual observatory could be defined as a collection of integrated astronomical data archives and software tools that utilize computer networks to create an environment in which research can be conducted. Several countries have initiated national virtual observatory programs that combine existing databases from ground-based and orbiting observatories, scientific facility especially equipped to detect and record naturally occurring scientific phenomena. As a result, data from all the world's major observatories will be available to all users and to the public. This is significant not only because of the immense volume of astronomical data but also because the data on stars and galaxies has been compiled from observations in a variety of wavelengths-optical, radio, infrared, gamma ray, X-ray and more. In a virtual observatory environment, all of this data is integrated so that it can be synthesized and used in a given study. During the autumn of the 2001 (26.09.2001) six organizations from Europe put the establishment of the Astronomical Virtual Observatory (AVO)-ESO, ESA, Astrogrid, CDS, CNRS, Jodrell Bank (Dolensky et al., 2003). Its aims have been outlined as follows: - To provide comparative analysis of large sets of multiwavelength data; - To reuse data collected by a single source; - To provide uniform access to data; - To make data available to less-advantaged communities; - To be an educational tool. The Virtual observatory includes: - Tools that make it easy to locate and retrieve data from catalogues, archives, and databases worldwide; - Tools for data analysis, simulation, and visualization; - Tools to compare observations with results obtained from models, simulations and theory; - Interoperability: services that can be used regardless of the clients computing platform, operating system and software capabilities; - Access to data in near real-time, archived data and historical data; - Additional information - documentation, user-guides, reports, publications, news and so on. This large growth of astronomical data and the necessity of an easy access to those data led to the foundation of the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA). IVOA was formed in June 2002. By January 2005, the IVOA has grown to include 15 funded VO projects from Australia, Canada, China, Europe, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. At the time being Bulgaria is not a member of European Astronomical Virtual Observatory and as the Bulgarian Virtual Observatory is not a legal entity, we are not members of IVOA. The main purpose of the project is Bulgarian Virtual Observatory to join the leading virtual astronomical institutions in the world. Initially the Bulgarian Virtual Observatory will include: - BG Galaxian virtual observatory; - BG Solar virtual observatory; - Department Star clusters of IA, BAS; - WFPDB group of IA, BAS. All available data will be integrated in the Bulgarian centers of astronomical data, conducted by the Wide Field Plate Archive data centre. For the above purpose POSTGRESQL or/and MySQL will be installed on the server of BG-VO and SAADA tools, ESO-MEX or/and DAL ToolKit to transform our FITS files in standard format for VO-tools. A part of the participants was acquainted with the principles of these products during the "Days of virtual observatory in Sofia" January, 2008.

  17. The petrology and petrogenesis of the Swaldale region, Motzfeldt Center, South Greenland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reekie, Callum; Finch, Adrian

    2016-04-01

    Motzfeldt is one of several high-level alkaline plutonic centers that collectively define the mid-Proterozoic Gardar Province of South Greenland. Despite pyrochlore-hosted Ta-enrichment (± Nb-Zr-REE), the petrology, geochemistry and petrogenesis across the center remain to be fully constrained. We present petrological and geochemical data for the Swaldale region, an arcuate band of nepheline syenite and associated intrusives on Motzfeldt's NW margin. Work for this present study was undertaken in collaboration with the license holder, Regency Mines plc. Swaldale comprises two geochemically distinct magmatic members. The largest, the Motzfeldt Sø Formation (MSF; EuN/Eu*N = 0.35), is a suite of diverse syenite variants that show significant petrological and geochemical heterogeneity. These rocks have a relatively restricted SiO2 range (57.4-62.9 wt.%) with concurrent variation in (Na+K)/Al (0.75-0.95), Mg/(Mg+Fe) (2.18-19.82) and ΣREE (595.0-3095.9 ppm), emphasizing their evolved but not peralkaline nature. Fractionation is mirrored by pyroxene geochemistry with evolution from aegirine-augite, aegirine-hedenbergite, to aegirine. Accessory pyrochlore, titanite, and zircon are rare; however, anomalous facies of zircon-rich (~2 wt.%) syenite are observed. Intercumulus fluorite is a common accessory within MSF rocks. Hydrothermal alteration, marked by hematized alkali-feldspar, is pervasive and ubiquitous. Further peraluminous syenite of the Geologfjeld Formation ((Na+K)/Al = 0.74; EuN/Eu*N = 1.60) marks the truncated remnant of an early syenite stock to the north of the MSF. These rocks contain salite, which, in addition to a lower ΣREE and higher Mg/(Mg+Fe) (18.01), demonstrates the less-fractionated nature of this stock in comparison with the MSF. Sheeted intrusions of peralkaline syenite ((Na+K)/Al = 1.1; Ta = 32.4 ppm) truncate the MSF across central Swaldale. On a mineralogical basis, it is hypothesized that such intrusions reflect outward sheeting of the central Flinks Dal Formation, the last major expression of Motzfeldt magmatism. Further NE-SW dykes of the Igaliku Dyke Swarm and termed 'Big Feldspar Dykes' are present across the region. The MSF has bulk-rock Ta, Nb, and Zr concentrations of 7.2-22.1 ppm, 156.9-402.7 ppm, and 563.0-13790.0 ppm, respectively. We interpret lesser enrichment in HFSE's over both central and NE Motzfeldt as consistent with the inferred enhancement of HFSE complex solubility in F-rich residual melts. Accordingly, the most evolved and enriched melts are expected towards the top of the Motzfeldt Center where concentrations exceeding 250 ppm Ta are observed (McCreath et al., 2013). This inference is additionally supported by observed changes to Nb/Ta ratios throughout the MSF whereby the solubility of Ta complexes in F-rich melt is greater than Nb. Our data are consistent with a model whereby MSF melts of the Swaldale region are intermediaries between parental and the most evolved melts of the MSF. Our data supplement previous investigations to constrain fully the abundance and distribution of Motzfeldt Ta-Nb-Zr-REE-mineralization within the Gardar rift. References: McCreath, J.A., Finch, A.A., Herd, D.A., Armour-Brown, A., 2013, Geochemistry of pyrochlore minerals from the Motzfeldt Center, South Greenland: The mineralogy of a syenite hosted Ta, Nb deposit. American Mineralogist, v. 98, p. 426-438.

  18. Ozonolysis of a series of biogenic organic volatile compounds and secondary organic aerosol formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bernard, François; Quilgars, Alain; Cazaunau, Mathieu; Grosselin, Benoît.; Daele, Véronique; Mellouki, Abdelwahid; Winterhalter, Richard; Moortgat, Geert K.

    2010-05-01

    Secondary organic aerosols are formed via nucleation of atmospheric organic vapours on pre-existing particles observed in various rural environments where the organic fraction represents the major part of the observed nano-particle (Kavouras and Stephanou, 2002; Kulmala et al., 2004a). However, nucleation of organic vapors appears to be unlikely thermodynamically in relevant atmospheric conditions (Kulmala et al., 2004b). In this work, a systematic study has been conducted to investigate the aerosol formation through the ozonolysis of a series of monotepenes using a newly developed aerosol flow reactor and the ICARE indoor simulation chamber. The nucleation thresholds have been determined for SOA formed through the reaction of ozone with a-Pinene, sabinene, myrcene and limonene in absence of any observable existing particles. The measurements were performed using the flow reactor combined to a particle counter (CPC 3022). Number concentrations of SOA have been measured for different concentration of consumed monoterpenes. The data obtained allow us to estimate the nucleation threshold for a range of 0.2 - 45 ppb of consumed monoterpenes. The nucleation threshold values obtained here (≤ 1 ppb of the consumed monoterpenes) have been found to be lower than the previously reported ones (Berndt et al., 2003; Bonn and Moortgat, 2003; Koch et al., 2000; Lee and Kamens, 2005). The ICARE simulation chamber has been used to study the mechanism of the reaction of ozone with various acyclic terpenes (myrcene, ocimene, linalool and a-farnesene) and to derive the SOA mass formation yield. The time-concentration profiles of reactants and products in gas-phase were obtained using in-situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. In addition, the number and mass concentrations of SOA have been monitored with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer. The chemical composition of the SOA formed has been tentatively characterised using Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry. The results obtained will be compared with those from the literature when available and discussed in terms of their atmospheric impact. Berndt, T., O. Böge and F. Stratmann (2003). Gas-phase ozonolysis of a-pinene: gaseous products and particle formation. Atmospheric Environment, 37: 3933-3945. Bonn, B. and G.K. Moortgat (2003). Sesquiterpene ozonolysis: Origin of atmospheric new particle formation from biogenic hydrocarbons. Journal of Geophysical Research, 30(11). Kavouras, I. and E.G. Stephanou (2002). Direct evidence of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol formation in forest atmosphere through heteromolecular nucleation. Environmental Science and Technology, 36: 5083-5091. Koch, S., R. Winterhalter, E. Uherek, A. Kolloff, P. Neeb and G.K. Moortagt (2000). Formation of new particles in the gas-phase ozonolysis of monoterpenes. Atmospheric Environment, 34: 4031-4042. Kulmala, M., V.-M. Kerminen, T. Anttila, A. Laaksonen and C.D. O'Dowd (2004b). Organic aerosol formation via sulphate cluster activation. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109(D04205): 1-7. Kulmala, M., H. Vehkamäki, T. Petäjä, M. Dal Maso, A. Lauri, V.-M. Kerminen, W. Birmili and P.H. McMurry (2004a). Formation and growth rates of ultra-fine atmospheric particles: a review of observations. Journal of Aerosol Science, 35: 143-176. Lee, S. and R.M. Kamens (2005). Particle nucleation from the reaction of a-pinene and O3. Atmospheric Environment, 39: 6822-6832.

  19. Remote assessment of instantaneous changes in water chemistry after liming in a Nova Scotia catchment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Angelidis, Christine

    2013-04-01

    Remote assessment of instantaneous changes in water chemistry after liming in a Nova Scotia catchment ANGELIDIS, C.1, STERLING, S.1, BREEN, A.2, BIAGI, K.1., and CLAIR, T.A.1 1Dalhousie University, christine.angelidis@dal.ca, 2Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation, andrew@coastalaction.org Southwestern Nova Scotia has some of the most acidic freshwaters in North America due to its location downwind of the major emission sources in eastern Canada and the US and due to a resistant geology which offers little acid buffering capacity (Clair et al. 2007). Because of the poor buffering and regionally high runoff values, hydrological events such as snowmelt and rain storms are frequent and can cause sudden changes in water chemistry which can have devastating effects on freshwater biota due to increases in acidity and metals (Dennis and Clair in press). Clair et al. (2001) have estimated the potential frequency of acidic episodes in this region based on a number of hydrological factors, though the technology available at the time to monitor short-term changes was not dependable. Recent advances in equipment have made the assessment of the frequency and severity of acidic episodes easier and more accurate, allowing better interpretation and prediction of hydrogeochemical changes with variations in weather and deposition patterns. Here we take advantage of these recent advances to monitor water chemistry in an experimental catchment, and explore the response to catchment liming. Catchment liming is one way of mitigating the effects of acid deposition in sensitive areas. We limed a 50 ha catchment at a rate of 5 t/ha in the Gold River watershed of southwest Nova Scotia to examine the interactions between application of lime with the geological and climatological conditions of this region and acid episode frequency. In order to assess changes of episode frequency caused by liming, we established two mobile environmental monitoring platforms in the catchment: a control site located immediately above the limed area, and a treatment site 10 m below the limed area. We monitored pH, DO, water temperature, conductivity, stage height, air temperature, wind speed and direction as well as precipitation every 15 minutes since November 2011 with the data being accessed in real-time. The high frequency measurements were supplemented by a full chemical analysis of bi-weekly to monthly grab-samples at the site since December 2010. Pre-treatment stream chemistry and hydrology data at the control and treatment sites show identical patterns. pH values before treatment were as low as 4.9 and Ca2+ as low as 0.7 mg•L-1 demonstrating the need for the lime treatment. In this work, we show real-time outputs of pre- and post-treatment stream chemistry and present the short-term effects of liming on this uniquely acid sensitive ecosystem. Clair, T.A., Bobba, A.G., & Miller, K. 2001. Yearly changes in the seasonal frequency and duration of short-term acid pulses in Nova Scotia, Canada streams. Env. Geol. 40: 582-591. Clair, T.A., Dennis, I.F., Scruton, D.A., & Gilliss, M. 2007. Freshwater acidification research in Atlantic Canada: a review of results and predictions for the future. Env. Reviews 15: 153-167. Dennis, I.F. & Clair, T.A. (in press) The distribution of dissolved aluminum in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) rivers of Atlantic Canada and its potential effect on aquatic populations. Can. J.Fish Aquat. Sci.

  20. Contribution of harbour activities to atmospheric aerosol in the Brindisi area

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Donateo, Antonio; Cesari, Daniela; Nocioni, Alessandra; Grasso, Fabio M.; Merico, Eva; Giua, Roberto; Contini, Daniele

    2013-04-01

    The port areas are economic centres and transport hubs, that bring together different transport modes (sea, road, railway transport) and also industrial activities. Ship emissions when docked and during port manoeuvring can have a substantial negative effect on local air quality. The Fagerli and Tarrason (2001) simulation results indicated that ship traffic emissions contribute to 5% and 10% of PM10 concentrations in large parts of Great Britain, Portugal and Italy; similarly to what was obtained by Dalsoren et al. (2009). At the beginning of 2012 it was started the research project CESAPO (Contribution of Emission Sources on the Air quality of the POrt-cities in Greece and Italy), funded within the framework of Interreg Italy-Greece (2007/2013), having as objective the quantification of the contribution to atmospheric particles of emission sources in two important Mediterranean port-cities, namely Patra (Greece) and Brindisi (Italy). In this work the first results of the CESAPO project will be presented giving more emphasis on the analysis of the maritime transport and the activities within the harbour of Brindisi that is characterized by several emission sources operating concurrently. In 2010 and 2011, in the port of Brindisi freight traffic and total goods movement accounted for more than 9.5 million tons, with over 520,000 passengers. To recognize the contribution of harbour activities to PM2.5 and to the total number concentration of particles with respect to other emission sources (urban traffic and industrial pollution) it has been performed an intensive observation period (IOP) of 5 months (June 1 to October 31, 2012). During the IOP the data of 10 fixed monitoring stations (of the regional network managed by ARPA Puglia) and those from two additional stations specifically installed during the project inside the harbour area. A station was used to characterize the chemical composition of PM2.5 and PAHs (in the gaseous and aerosol phases) and the other was devoted to high temporal resolution (1 second) measurements of PM2.5 mass and number particle concentrations. Results show that the contribution of port activities (ship traffic and loading/unloading of ships) is not easily distinguishable in the daily average concentration as it was also observed in the port of Venice (Contini et al., 2011). Average long-term concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in the port are smaller than those observed in the urban area, but numerous short peaks (durations variable between 10 and 100 minutes) of concentration were observed associated to harbour activities in which the PM2.5 concentrations increase of 3-4 times and number particle concentrations increase up to a factor 10. These concentration peaks were analysed using a statistical methodology that takes into account the wind direction and the actual ships traffic to quantitatively characterize the contribution of vessels traffic emissions during arrive and departure operations or during loading/unloading. Results will be presented and compared to those obtained in other harbour areas in Europe. Contini D. et al., 2011. Journal of Environmental Management: 92, 2119-2129 Dalsøren, S.B. et al., 2009. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 9, 2171-2194 Fagerli, H., Tarrason, L., 2001. Website. http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/pdf/particulates.pdf

  1. Unshocked Equilibrated H Chondrites: A Common Low-Temperature Record from Fe-Mg Ordering in Orthopyroxene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Folco, L.; Mellini, M.; Pillinger, C. T.

    1995-09-01

    The study of the thermal metamorphism of ordinary chondrites through geothermometers can provide significant constraints on the parent body thermal models which remain controversial. We report here results from Fe-Mg ordering closure temperatures (Tc) of orthopyroxenes from eight unshocked equilibrated H-chondrites obtained by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction. The method is based on the fact that cation partitioning in orthopyroxene is sensitive to temperature [1], and makes use of the experimental calibration by Molin et al. [2]. The goal of the investigation is to check how petrographic types relate to cation ordering thermal records. Results: The orthopyroxenes show a very similar degree of Fe-Mg ordering (see Table 1.). The Tc's cluster within the 384+/-48 to 480+/-28 degrees C interval, and show no correlation with petrographic type. The lack of a correlation does not mean that the distribution is random, rather, it appears to be controlled in individual samples by the degree of equilibration. In fact, the higher the petrographic type, the more coherent the results of the grains from individual chondrites. The spread of Tc's in the least equilibrated chondrites could be either a memory of heterogeneous pre-metamorphic records related to individual chondrule histories, or an artefact due to crystal defects. Therefore (1) the thermal records, inferred from the Fe-Mg ordering, are nearly the same for all the equilibrated H-chondrites; (2) the most equilibrated chondrites record distinct Tc values within the larger common Tc range; (3) the spread of Tc in H4's maybe indicative of disequilibrium and merits further study. The closure temperature conveys information on the cooling rate close to its value, regardless of the temperature regimes when the ordering process started. Extrapolation to high temperatures can be made only if the cooling path is constrained. Since we have no data to establish the temperature when ordering began and to decide whether the cooling was linear, we have not attempted quantitative estimates of cooling rates. However we can say that as equilibrated H-chondrites carry similar Tc records, they cooled at similar rates through 380-480 degrees C. However, the k(sub)D's (i.e., the intracrystalline Fe-Mg distribution coefficient) range 0.029 to 0.054, suggesting that H-chondrites cooled in petrogenetic environments intermediate between those of volcanic [3] and granulitic rocks [3,4]. Conclusion: Our results provide the following constraints: (1) Equilibrated H-chondrites, regardless the petrographic type, were located in petrogenetic environments characterized by similar temperature-time conditions when cooling through 380-480 degrees C, and, in terms of terrestrial environments, intermediate between those of volcanic and granulitic facies. (2) Different petrographic types reflect distinct metamorphic thermal regimes. Thus, to account for constraint (1), petrographic type was determined at temperatures above the 380-480 degrees C interval. This implies that equilibrated H-chondrites were placed in different geological environments characterized by distinct temperature-time regimes when still above this temperature range. In the case of the least equilibrated chondrites, for which the two events could coincide. Acknowledgments: We thank EUROMET for providing us with the Frontier Mt. samples, and PNRA for supporting this study. References: [1] Saxena S. K. and Dal Negro A. (1983) Bull. Min ral., 106, 443-449. [2] Molin G. M. et al. (1991) EPSL, 105, 260-265. [3] Bertolo S. and Nimis P. (1993) EJM, 5, 707-719. [4] Tribaudino M. and Talarico F. (1992) EJM, 4, 453-463.

  2. Dimensionnement des actionneurs électriques alimentés à fréquence variable sous faible tension

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Biedinger, J.-M.; Vilain, J.-P.

    1999-09-01

    In Part I we present a multidisciplinary analysis model for the prediction of functional connections between the design variables and the electromagnetical, electrical and thermal performances of a brushless permanent magnet motor. In this paper we have elaborated a design methodology for electrical motors supplied from a variable-frequency low-voltage source. The objective is to take into account the influence of the inverter's dynamics from the beginning of the design, for the same reasons as we do for electromechanical and thermal constraints. The procedure is based on a Sequential Quadratic Programming optimization method. Two techniques are used to take into account the influence of the inverter: the first one develops the performance analysis with the multidisciplinary model; the second one considers the inverter's current reference as a supplementary optimization variable for the control of the design. Optimization difficulties linked to the chopping of the converter are discuted in connection with a sensitivity analysis of the torque, with respect to the inverter's current reference; a method is proposed to enhance the performances of the algorithm. The method has been applied to the design of a permanent magnet brushless DC motor used in the propulsion system of an electrical scooter; evolution of the design with the complexity level of analysis model is evidenced. Dans une première partie nous avons développé un modèle d'analyse pluridisciplinaire qui établissait les dépendances fonctionnelles entre les variables de conception et les performances magnéto-électro-thermiques d'un moteur brushless à aimants permanents. Dans cet article nous décrivons une procédure de dimensionnement adaptée à la conception de la machine alimentée à fréquence variable sous faible tension. L'objectif est d'intégrer la dynamique du convertisseur électronique dès la phase initiale du dimensionnement, au même titre que les spécifications électromécaniques et thermiques. La procédure est gérée par une méthode d'optimisation déterministe de type Programmation Quadratique Séquentielle. Elle intègre l'influence du convertisseur au moyen de deux spécificités : la première consiste à évaluer les fonctions du problème d'optimisation sur la base du module d'analyse pluridisciplinaire ; la deuxième permet de contrôler l'évolution du dimensionnement au travers de variables d'optimisation dont la liste inclut les consignes de la commande en courant du convertisseur. Les difficultés d'optimisation liées au mode de fonctionnement discret du convertisseur sont discutées au regard du calcul de la sensibilité du couple électromagnétique envers la consigne de courant du convertisseur ; une méthode est proposée pour assurer la robustesse de la procédure en présence du convertisseur. L'application porte sur le dimensionnement d'un moteur à aimants permanents de type “brushless trapézoïdal" destiné à la traction d'un scooter électrique ; l'évolution de la structure optimale avec le degré de complexité du module d'analyse est mise en évidence.

  3. Secondary organic aerosols - formation and ageing studies in the SAPHIR chamber

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Spindler, Christian; Müller, Lars; Trimborn, Achim; Mentel, Thomas; Hoffmann, Thorsten

    2010-05-01

    Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from oxidation products of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) constitutes an important coupling between vegetation, atmospheric chemistry, and climate change. Such secondary organic aerosol components play an important role in particle formation in Boreal regions ((Laaksonen et al., 2008)), where biogenic secondary organic aerosols contribute to an overall negative radiative forcing, thus a negative feed back between vegetation and climate warming (Spracklen et al., 2008). Within the EUCAARI project we investigated SOA formation from mixtures of monoterpenes (and sesquiterpenes) as emitted typically from Boreal tree species in Southern Finland. The experiments were performed in the large photochemical reactor SAPHIR in Juelich at natural light and oxidant levels. Oxidation of the BVOC mixtures and SOA formation was induced by OH radicals and O3. The SOA was formed on the first day and then aged for another day. The resulting SOA was characterized by HR-ToF-AMS, APCI-MS, and filter samples with subsequent H-NMR, GC-MS and HPLC-MS analysis. The chemical evolution of the SOA is characterized by a fast increase of the O/C ratio during the formation process on the first day, stable O/C ratio during night, and a distinctive increase of O/C ratio at the second day. The increase of the O/C ratio on the second day is highly correlated to the OH dose and is accompanied by condensational growth of the particles. We will present simultaneous factor analysis of AMS times series (PMF, Ulbrich et al., 2009 ) and direct measurements of individual chemical species. We found that four factors were needed to represent the time evolution of the SOA composition (in the mass spectra) if oxidation by OH plays a mayor role. Corresponding to these factors we observed individual, representative molecules with very similar time behaviour. The correlation between tracers and AMS factors is astonishingly good as the molecular tracers represented only a very small mass fraction of the factors. There is indication that some factors grow at the cost of the other suggesting a set of successive generations of oxidation products. This conversion could proceed either by direct condensed phase processes or by an evaporation-oxidation-recondensation mechanism. On the other hand it seems that the factors evolve in parallel, representing products of multiple oxidation which appear on different time scales in the particulate phase. These findings will be discussed with respect to their importance for ageing processes of atmospheric organic aerosols. References Laaksonen, A., Kulmala, M., O'Dowd, C. D., Joutsensaari, J., Vaattovaara, P., Mikkonen, S., Lehtinen, K. E. J., Sogacheva, L., Dal Maso, M., Aalto, P., Petaja, T., Sogachev, A., Yoon, Y. J., Lihavainen, H., Nilsson, D., Facchini, M. C., Cavalli, F., Fuzzi, S., Hoffmann, T., Arnold, F., Hanke, M., Sellegri, K., Umann, B., Junkermann, W., Coe, H., Allan, J. D., Alfarra, M. R., Worsnop, D. R., Riekkola, M. L., Hyotylainen, T., and Viisanen, Y.: The role of VOC oxidation products in continental new particle formation, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 8, 2657-2665, 2008 Spracklen, D. V., Bonn, B., and Carslaw, K. S.: Boreal forests, aerosols and the impacts on clouds and climate, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society a-Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, 366, 4613-4626, 10.1098/rsta.2008.0201, 2008 Ulbrich, I. M., Canagaratna, M. R., Zhang, Q., Worsnop, D. R., and Jimenez, J. L.: Interpretation of organic components from Positive Matrix Factorization of aerosol mass spectrometric data, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 9, 2891-2918, 2009

  4. Coupling of Oceanic and Continental Crust During Eocene Eclogite-Facies Metamorphism: Evidence From the Monte Rosa Nappe, Western Alps, Italy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lapen, T. J.; Johnson, C. M.; Baumgartner, L. P.; Skora, S.; Mahlen, N. J.; Beard, B. L.

    2006-12-01

    Subduction of continental crust to HP-UHP metamorphic conditions requires overcoming density contrasts that are unfavorable to deep burial, whereas exhumation of these rocks can be reasonably explained through buoyancy-assisted transport in the subduction channel to more shallow depths. In the western Alps, both continental and oceanic lithosphere has been subducted to eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions. The burial and exhumation histories of these sections of lithosphere bear directly on the dynamics of subduction and the stacking of units within the subduction channel. We address the burial history of the continental crust with high precision U-Pb rutile and Lu-Hf garnet geochronology of the eclogite-facies Monte Rosa nappe (MR), western Alps, Italy. U-Pb rutile ages from quartz-carbonate-white mica-rutile veins that are hosted within eclogite and schist of the MR, Gressoney Valley, Italy, indicate that it was at eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions at 42.6 +/- 0.6 Ma. The sample area (Indren glacier, Furgg zone; Dal Piaz, 2001) consists of eclogite boudins that are surrounded by micaceous schist. Associated with the eclogite and schist are quartz-carbonate-white mica-rutile veins that formed in tension cracks in the eclogite and along the contact between eclogite and surrounding schist. Intrusion of the veins occurred at eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions (480-570°C, >1.3-1.4 GPa) based on textural relations, oxygen isotope thermometry, and geothermobarometry. Lu-Hf geochronology of garnet from a chloritoid-talc-garnet-phengite-quartz-calcite-pyrite - chalcopyrite bearing boudin within talc-chloritoid whiteschists of the MR, Val d'Ayas, Italy (Chopin and Monie, 1984; Pawlig, 2001) yields an age of 40.54 +/- 0.36 Ma. The talc-chloritoid whiteschists from the area record pressures and temperatures of 1.6-2.4 GPa and 500-530°C (Chopin and Monie, 1984; Le Bayon et al., 2006) indicating near UHP metamorphic conditions. Based on the age, P-T, and textural data, the rutile age likely represents the prograde-leg of the eclogite-facies P-T path whereas the Lu-Hf garnet age likely represents higher grade metamorphic conditions. The timing of eclogite-facies metamorphism in the MR is within the same time interval as the duration of prograde metamorphism (~55-40) recorded in the structurally overlying Zermatt-Saas ophiolite (ZSO; e.g., Amato et al., 1999; Lapen et al., 2003; Mahlen et al., this meeting). In particular, the Lu-Hf garnet age from the MR is identical within error to a relatively young 40.8 +/- 1.8 Ma Lu-Hf garnet-whole rock-cpx age from a structurally low slice of the ZSO at Saas-Fee, Switzerland (Mahlen et al., this meeting). Not only do the ages of eclogite-facies metamorphism overlap between the MR and ZSO, but so do the P-T conditions (e.g., between 1.6-2.8 GPa; 500-600°C). These data, combined with the relative structural positions of the MR and ZSO in the western Alps, suggest that the MR and ZSO were likely juxtaposed within the subduction channel through underplating of the MR beneath the ZSO. The strong negative buoyancy of the MR has likely aided in the exhumation of sections of the ZSO. Therefore, coupling of continental and oceanic terranes in a subduction channel, perhaps a general feature in the western Alps, may be critical in preventing permanent loss of oceanic crust to the mantle.

  5. Il ruolo svolto dall’attività lavorativa sull’ipertensione arteriosa

    PubMed Central

    Barbini, N.; Gorini, G.; Ferrucci, L.; Biggeri, A.

    2009-01-01

    RIASSUNTO Introduzione I parametri di pressione arteriosa, sistolica (PAS) o diastolica (PAD) hanno costituito I’oggetto di numerosi studi, alcuni dei quali stabiliscono un’associazione tra I’aumnto di tali parametri e la mortalità, in particolare alle età medie. I fattori di rischio di ipertensione più frequentemente studiati sono il consumo di alcol, il fumo e I’origine etnica in riferimento sia alle differenze genetiche che nella condotta alimentare, mentre i fattori di origine professionale sono stati presi in considerazione più raramente e in maniera poco approfondita, inoltre sono state riferite notevoli differenze nelle pressioni arteriose medie di individui che svolgono professioni diverse. Sembra infatti che i “colletti blu” siano più a rischio dei “colletti bianchi”. Obiettivi Il nostro scopo è valutare se determinati rischi o vincoli connessi con l’attività professionale o determinati stili di vita rappresentano un fattore di rischio per l’ipertensione arteriosa in considerazioni dell’aumentare dell’età. Elementi specifici che rendano conto di questa relazione non sono stati ancora completamente chiariti e soprattutto i dati sulla popolazione italiana sono molto limitati. Metodi La metodologia di ricerca utilizzata è stata quella dell’indagine francese ESTEV (Derriennic, Touranchet, Volkoff) - VISAT (Marquie, Janson), studio epidemiologico longitudinale su oltre 23000 lavoratori attivata in Francia nel 1990 al fine di indagare gli effetti a lungo termine delle condizioni di lavoro, riferite all’intera vita professionale, sia sull’invecchiamento sia sulla salute dei lavoratori. Analoga indagine è stata avviata in Italia, nel 2000, in 6 Regioni, prendendo in esame i lavoratori dipendenti di diversi settori produttivi appartenenti a 5 coorti di età: da 32 a 52 anni con intervallo di 5 anni. Le rilevazioni sono state effettuate dai medici del lavoro di azienda attraverso 3 questionari: 1. sulle condizioni professionali (esposizione a determinati rischi o vincoli); 2. sugli stili di vita e la salute percepita secondo il Nottingham Health Profile; 3. sulle condizioni oggettive di salute. Per il presente lavoro saranno considerati solo alcuni parametri utili all’approfondimento epidemiologico nel settore cardiocircolatorio. Essi riguarderanno: 1) le condizioni di lavoro, 2) la valutazione soggettiva del lavoro, 3) costrizioni specifiche del lavoro vissute come più gravose con l’avanzare dell’età. Relativamente all’ipertensione, sono stati considerati ipertesi i soggetti che presentavano una PAS ≥160 mm/Hg e/o una PAD ≥90 mm/Hg nonché coloro in cura antipertensiva. Risultati I risultati si riferiscono a 1104 lavoratori, di cui 76% uomini e 24% donne. La prevalenza di ipertensione si è dimostrata più elevata nei maschi (33% Vs 22%). Le stime del rischio hanno evidenziato una associazione statisticamente significativa con alcuni fattori lavorativi come mantenere posture difficili (O.R. 1.71), lavorare in presenza di calore (O.R. 1.43), a contatto con agenti chimici (O.R, 1.31). stare a lungo seduti (O.R. 1.48), fare più cose contemporaneamente (O.R. 1.41), essere interrotti nel proprio lavoro (O.R. 1,35). non poter distogilere gli occhi dal lavoro (O.R.1.61). Conclusioni Noi abbiamo osservato che alcune caratteristiche fisiche del lavoro, ma soprattutto quelle di tipo organizzativo sono fortemente associate all’ipertensione arteriosa. Un elemento importante è sembrata la valutazione soggettiva del valore che i lavoratori danno del proprio lavoro: tale elemento è fortemente connesso con I’organizzazione del lavoro, pertanto è un possibile target di prevenzione (fattore di rischio modificabile). PMID:17886759

  6. WaveSAX device: design optimization through scale modelling and a PTO strategical control system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peviani, Maximo; Danelli, Andrea; Dadone, Gianluca; Dalmasso, Alberto

    2017-04-01

    WaveSAX is an innovative OWC (Oscillating Water Column) device for the generation of electricity from wave power, conceived to be installed in coastal marine structures, such as ports and harbours. The device - especially designed for the typical wave climate of Mediterranean Sea - is characterized by two important aspects: flexibility to fit in different structural configurations and replication in a large number of units. A model of the WaveSAX device on a scale 1:5 has been built and tested in the ocean tank at Ecole Centrale de Nantes (France). The study aimed to analyse the behaviour of the device, including two Wells turbine configurations (with three and four blades), with regular and irregular wave conditions in the ocean wave tank. The model and the wave basin were equipped with a series of sensors which allowed to measure the following parameters during the tests: pressure in different points inside the device, the free water surface displacement inside and outside the device, the rotational velocity and the torque at the top of the axis. The tests had the objective to optimize the device design, especially as far as the characteristics of the rotor of the turbine is concern. Although the performance of the WaveSAX has been satisfactory for regular wave conditions, the behaviour of the Wells turbines for irregular wave climate has shown limitations in terms of maintaining the capacity to transform hydraulics energy into mechanical power. To optimize the efficiency of the turbine, an electronical system has been built on the basis of the ocean tank tests. It allows to continuously monitor and command the rotational speed and the torque of the rotor connected with the turbine, and to control in real time the electrical flow of a motor-generator, either absorbing energy as a generator, or providing power to the turbine working as an engine. Two strategies - based on the velocity and the torque control - have been investigate in the electronic test bench simulating four wave conditions previously tested in the ocean tank at the ECN (Nantes, France). The results showed a satisfactory behaviour of the system and allowed to define the optimal velocity and torque conditions to maximize the PTO. REFERENCES 1. M. Peviani, 2015, 'WAVESAX device: conceptual design and perspectives', 8th European Seminar OWEMES 2015, Offshore Wind and other marine renewable Energies in Mediterranean and European Seas, Rome, Italy 2. B. Holmes, K. Nielsen, 2010, Guidelines for the Development & Testing of Wave Energy Systems, OES-IA Annex II Task 2.1, Report T02-2.1 3. G. Agate, A. Amicarelli, M. Peviani, 2014, 'Analisi fluidodinamica di un prototipo per la conversione di energia da moto ondoso: ottimizzazione della componente fissa e stime preliminari di potenza assorbita con la girante', RSE Ricerca di Sistema, Report 14001669 4. G. Agate, A. Amicarelli, A. Danelli, M. Peviani, 2015, 'Ottimizzazione del disegno di un dispositivo di generazione d'energia dal moto ondoso: simulazioni numeriche e studi in vasca di laboratorio idraulico, RSE Ricerca di Sistema, Report 15000671 5. A. Agate, A. Amicarelli, A. Danelli, M. Peviani, 2015. 'Optimization of the WaveSAX device: numerical modelling and ocean wave basin tests', VI International Conference on Computational Methods in Marine Engineering MARINE 2015, Rome, Italy 6. A. Danelli, M. Peviani, 2016. 'Performance evaluation of an innovative device to transform wave power into electric energy in ports and harbours". CORE 2nd International Conference on Offshore Renewable Energy; Glasgow, UK 7. M. Peviani, A. Danelli, G. Agate, F. Thiebaut, 2014, 'WAVETUBE RSE1, addressed to test an innovative device to transform wave power into electric energy in ports and harbours', Infrastructure post access report in the MARINET project framework 8. M. Peviani, A. Danelli, G. Agate, S. Bourdier, 2015, WAVESAX RSE2, addressed to test an innovative device to transform wave power into electric energy in ports and harbours', Infrastructure post access report in the MARINET project framework.

  7. Landslide hazard prediction in the North-Eastern Apennines (Italy)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Disperati, L.; Guastaldi, E.; Rindinella, A.

    2003-04-01

    In order to assess the landslide hazard nearby the Pergola city (in the Northern-Eastern Apennines, Italy) a ground survey at a scale of 1:10,000 was performed for an extent of about 370 km^2 (Carmignani, 2001), and a GIS of landslides was built. Following statistical analysis allows to assess the correlation among landslide occurrences and causal factors related to the detachment zone (lithology, engineering geology, elevation, slope, aspect, bedding as related with slope face -RBS- and land use). Consequently, considering the morphological, lithological and anthropic characters of current slides, it was agreed to locate possible future landslides in those area actually stable but characterised by similar conditions. Because of that, a geostatistical analysis was performed. Comparing for every landslide the occurence of either single or combined causal factor, the analysis was carried out in grid format. The spatial analysis of the GIS data layers allowed building the unique condition regions (Chung et al., 1995) and creating statistical data on causal factors in relation of landslides. Afterwards, for every region the susceptibility to development of new occurrences (favourability mapping) was calculated by utilising the certainty factor (CF; Chung &Fabbri, 1993). For landslides where crown was identified, the main scarp was considered as occurrence; a buffer around the highest point of landslide was built for all the others (Disperati et al., 2002). Such procedure was applied both for slides (175 occurrences) and flows (464 occurrences). Furthermore, by the application of the procedure to causal factors and their combination, additional information regarding susceptibility to development of new occurrences was calculated. The selection of the most suitable factors combination can be done through the results accuracy assessment in relation of time and/or space (Chung, 1999), by utilising two different hazard information layers, respectively computed from a training dataset of occurrences and a test dataset, a cross validation is made. The valuation both for flows and slides was performed through Prediction Rate Curves (PRC). By utilising the occurrences of the test dataset, PRC derived from the relation between CF trend in the whole area (cumulative percentage), portion of total area and number of landslides. As result, engineering geology can be indicated as the dominant factor for PRC of flows; likewise engineering geology, land use and RBS combination is the more effective combination. On the other side, slope and aspect resulted less determinative in best PRC trend. Moreover, the combination of engineering geology and slope allowed the computation of best PRC for landslide. References CARMIGNANI L. (2001): Realizzazione della cartografia geologica e geotematica e dei relativi supporti informatici alla scala 1/10.000 -- Progetto 1 -- Zona Nord. Progetti strumentali alla funzione di ricostruzione. Interventi strutturali comunitari obiettivo 5b -- Misura 3.1.4 Azioni di ricostruzione e recupero del tessuto urbano infrastrutturale nei territori colpiti dal sisma (Azione 7). Contratto tra la Regione Marche -- Servizio Urbanistica e Cartografia e l'Università degli Studi di Siena. Rapporto Finale. Università degli Studi di Siena, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Dicembre 200 1, pp. 6 I. CHUNG C. J. (1999): Prediction models in spatial data analysis for landslide hazard mapping -- Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada-Mineral Resources Division-Spatial Data Analysis Laboratory, http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/mrd/sdalweb/landslides/index.htm. CHUNG C. J., FABBRI A.G. (1993): The representation of geoscience information for data integration. Non-renewable Resources, v. 2., n. 3, pp. 1 22-139. CHUNG C. J., FABBRI A.G., VAN WESTEN C.J (1995).- Multivariate regression analysis for landslide hazard zonation. In Carrara, A. and Guzzetti, F., eds.: "Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards". Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 107-133. DISPERATI L., GUASTALDI E., CARMIGNANI L. (2002)-- Landslide mapping and hazard prediction in the Pergola area (Marche, Italy). 8th Annual Conference of the International Association for Mathematical Geology, IAMG 2002, 15-20 September 2002, Berlin, Germany, Terra Nostra 04/2002, 2, pp. 507-512.

  8. (S, C, O, Sr) isotopic constraints on the diagenetic evolution of the COX clay formations at the Bure URL site, Paris Basin)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lerouge, C.; Gaucher, E. C.; Tournassat, C.; Agrinier, P.; Widory, D.; Guerrot, C.; Buschaert, S.

    2009-04-01

    The Underground Research Laboratory of Bure, located in the Eastern part of the Paris Basin, was selected by ANDRA (French Agency for Nuclear Management) in order to study the feasibility of a nuclear waste disposal in the Callovian-Oxfordian thick clayey formation at 400 meters depth. Since 1994's, numerous investigations have been initiated to understand and predict the behaviour of the clay formation in time and in space, by constraining its stability, the chemical evolution of the porewaters, and solution transfers between the clayey formation and its adjacent limestone sequences during geological times (ANDRA, 2005). In that way, this study presents combined new mineralogical and isotopic data of the diagenetic mineral sequence to constrain the porewater chemistry of the rock at different stages of the sedimentary then burial history of the clayey formation. The petrological study of Callovian-Oxfordian claystones provided evidence of the following diagenetic mineral sequence: 1) Framboïdal pyrite ± micritic calcite in replacement of carbonate bioclasts and in bioturbations, 2) Iron-rich euhedral carbonates (ankerite, sideroplesite), Glauconite, 3) Sparry dolomite, celestite in residual porosity, 4) Chalcedony 5) quartz/calcite. Pyrite in bioturbations shows a wide range of δ34S (-38 to +74 permil/CDT), providing evidence of bacterial sulphate reduction processes. The lowest negative values (-38 to -22 permil) indicate precipitation of pyrite in a marine environment with a permanent recharge in sulphate, whereas the higher pyrite δ34S values (-14 up to +74 permil) show that pyrite precipitated in a system that closed for sulphate. Consequently the variations of pyrite δ34S in bioturbations along the lithostratigraphic profil indicate a change of sedimentation conditions from a deep marine environment to an environment with alternative recharge of marine sulphates; that is consistent with the transgression/regression cycle observed in the middle sequence of the formation. The δ34S values of celestite (+ 22 to +31 permil /CDT) reflect the last evolution stage of the system at which the bacterial activity ends, the celestite corresponding to the deposition of the residual dissolved sulphate anions in the diagenetic porewaters. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of celestite (0.706872-0.707040) is consistent with a deposition from Jurassic marine-derived waters. Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of bulk calcite and dolomite are consistent with marine carbonates (δ13C= +0.2 to +2.3 permil/PDB, δ18O= +27.7 to +28.7 permil/SMOW) whereas late diagenetic siderite is slightly 13C- depleted. The 13C-depletion could be attributed to a partial contribution in diagenetic porewaters of carbonate ions derived partially from the degradation of organic matter issue of the bacterial sulphate reduction. The δ18O values of late diagenetic chalcedony range between +27 and +31 permil(/SMOW), suggesting precipitation from marine-derived porewaters at temperatures of maximum burial (~40-50°C). Late calcite in veinlet reworking with chalcedony and celestite, and late euhedral quartz in a limestone from the top of the formation have lower δ18O values (~+19 permil/SMOW), suggesting they precipitated from meteoric fluids (δ18O ~ -6 permil), whose signature is close to present-day porewaters of the formation. To conclude, combined mineralogical and isotopic data show that pyrite, sulfates, calcite cement, euhedral iron-bearing carbonates and probably chalcedony are diagenetic phases precipitated from marine-derived porewaters in conditions controlled by bacterial sulphate reduction. A calcite veinlet reworking chalcedony and celestite (in the middle sequence of the formation) and euhedral quartz encrusting a vug in a limestone from the top of the clayey formation are the only mineral records of the introduction of meteoric fluid in the clay formation, and the only phases at isotopic equilibrium with present-day porewaters.

  9. Density functional theory: Foundations reviewed

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kryachko, Eugene S.; Ludeña, Eduardo V.

    2014-11-01

    Guided by the above motto (quotation), we review a broad range of issues lying at the foundations of Density Functional Theory, DFT, a theory which is currently omnipresent in our everyday computational study of atoms and molecules, solids and nano-materials, and which lies at the heart of modern many-body computational technologies. The key goal is to demonstrate that there are definitely the ways to improve DFT. We start by considering DFT in the larger context provided by reduced density matrix theory (RDMT) and natural orbital functional theory (NOFT), and examine the implications that N-representability conditions on the second-order reduced density matrix (2-RDM) have not only on RDMT and NOFT but, also, by extension, on the functionals of DFT. This examination is timely in view of the fact that necessary and sufficient N-representability conditions on the 2-RDM have recently been attained. In the second place, we review some problems appearing in the original formulation of the first Hohenberg-Kohn theorem which is still a subject of some controversy. In this vein we recall Lieb's comment on this proof and the extension to this proof given by Pino et al. (2009), and in this context examine the conditions that must be met in order that the one-to-one correspondence between ground-state densities and external potentials remains valid for finite subspaces (namely, the subspaces where all Kohn-Sham solutions are obtained in practical applications). We also consider the issue of whether the Kohn-Sham equations can be derived from basic principles or whether they are postulated. We examine this problem in relation to ab initio DFT. The possibility of postulating arbitrary Kohn-Sham-type equations, where the effective potential is by definition some arbitrary mixture of local and non-local terms, is discussed. We also deal with the issue of whether there exists a universal functional, or whether one should advocate instead the construction of problem-geared functionals. These problems are discussed by making reference to ab initio DFT as well as to the local-scaling-transformation version of DFT, LS-DFT. In addition, we examine the question of the accuracy of approximate exchange-correlation functionals in the light of their non-observance of the variational principle. Why do approximate functionals yield reasonable (and accurate) descriptions of many molecular and condensed matter properties? Are the conditions imposed on exchange and correlation functionals sufficiently adequate to produce accurate semi-empirical functionals? In this respect, we consider the question of whether the results reflect a true approach to chemical accuracy or are just the outcome of a virtuoso-like performance which cannot be systematically improved. We discuss the issue of the accuracy of the contemporary DFT results by contrasting them to those obtained by the alternative RDMT and NOFT. We discuss the possibility of improving DFT functionals by applying in a systematic way the N-representability conditions on the 2-RDM. In this respect, we emphasize the possibility of constructing 2-matrices in the context of the local scaling transformation version of DFT to which the N-representability condition of RDM theory may be applied. We end up our revision of HKS-DFT by considering some of the problems related to spin symmetry and discuss some current issues dealing with a proper treatment of open-shell systems. We are particularly concerned, as in the rest of this paper, mostly with foundational issues arising in the construction of functionals. We dedicate the whole Section 4 to the local-scaling transformation version of density functional theory, LS-DFT. The reason is that in this theory some of the fundamental problems that appear in HKS-DFT, have been solved. For example, in LS-DFT the functionals are, in principle, designed to fulfill v- and N-representability conditions from the outset. This is possible because LS-DFT is based on density transformation (local-scaling of coordinates proceeds through density transformation) and so, because these functionals are constructed from prototype N-particle wavefunctions, the ensuing density functionals already have built-in N-representability conditions. This theory is presented in great detail with the purpose of illustrating an alternative way to HKS-DFT which could be used to improve the construction of HKS-DFT functionals. Let us clearly indicate, however, that although appealing from a theoretical point of view, the actual application of LS-DFT to large systems has not taken place mostly because of technical difficulties. Thus, our aim in introducing this theory is to foster a better understanding of its foundations with the hope that it may promote a cross-hybridization with the already existing approaches. Also, to complete our previous discussion on symmetry, in particular, spin-symmetry, we discuss this issue from the perspective of LS-DFT. Finally, in Section 6, we discuss dispersion molecular forces emphasizing their relevance to DFT approaches.

  10. Modelling global change impacts on soil carbon contents of agro-silvo-pastoral Mediterranean systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lozano-García, Beatriz; Muñoz-Rojas, Miriam; Parras-Alcántara, Luis

    2016-04-01

    To assess the impact of climate change on soil organic C (SOC) stocks in agro-silvo-pastoral environments, different models have been applied worldwide at local or regional scales, such as as RothC (Francaviglia et al., 2012) or CENTURY (Alvaro-Fuentes et al., 2012). However, some of these models may require a high number of input parameters or can underestimate the effect of soil depth. CarboSOIL (Muñoz-Rojas et al., 2013) is an empirical model based on regression techniques and developed to predict SOC contents at standard soil depths (0-25, 25-50 and 50-75 cm) under a range of climate and/or land use change scenarios. CarboSOIL has been successfully applied in different Mediterranean areas ,e.g. Southern Spain (Muñoz-Rojas et al., 2013; Abd-Elmabod et al., 2014), Northern Egypt (Muñoz-Rojas et al., 2014) and Italy (Muñoz-Rojas et al., 2015). In this study, CarboSOIL was applied in the Cardeña and Montoro mountain range Natural Park. This area covers 385 km2 and is located within Sierra Morena (Córdoba, South Spain) and has a semiarid Mediterranean climate. It is characterized by agro-silvo-pastoral systems. The Mediterranean evergreen oak woodland (MEOW-dehesa) is savanna-like open woodland ecosystem characterized by silvopastoral uses, being an ancient human modified Mediterranean landscape (Corral-Fernández et al., 2013; Lozano-García and Parras-Alcántara 2013). The most representative soils in the Cardeña and Montoro mountain range Natural Park are Cambisols, Regosols, Leptosols and Fluvisols. These soils are characterized by low fertility, poor physical conditions and marginal capacity for agricultural use, together with low organic matter (OM) content due to climate conditions (semiarid Mediterranean climate) and soil texture (sandy). The model was applied at different soil depths: 0-25, 25-50 and 50-75 cm (Parras-Alcántara et al., 2015) considering land use and climate changes scenarios based on available global climate models (IPPC, 2007). A total of 38 sampling points were selected under two management practices and six different land uses: (1) MEOW-dehesa (D); (2) MEOW-dehesa + some pine trees (D+P); (3) MEOW-dehesa + some cork oaks (D+C); (4) MEOW-dehesa + some gall oaks (D + G); (5) MEOW-dehesa after a clarified process and transformed to olive grove but maintaining isolated oaks (OG) and (6) MEOW-dehesa after a clarified process and transformed to cereal pasture with isolated oaks (C). Preliminary results showed a high heterogeneity of SOC contents along the soil profile for different climate and land use scenarios. The methods used here can be easily implemented in other Mediterranean areas with available information on climate, site, soil and land use. Keywords: CarboSOIL model, land use change, climate change, soil depth, dehesa References: Abd-Elmabod, S.K., Muñoz-Rojas, M., Jordán, A., Anaya-Romero, M., De la Rosa, D., 2014. Modelling soil organic carbon stocks along topographic transects under climate change scenarios using CarboSOIL. Geophys. Res. Abstr. vol. 16 EGU2014-295-1, EGU General Assembly.) Álvaro-Fuentes, J., Easter, M., Paustian, K., 2012. Climate change effects on organic carbon storage in agricultural soils of northeastern Spain. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 155, 87-94. Corral-Fernández, R., Parras-Alcántara, L., Lozano-García, B. 2013. Stratification ratio of soil organic C, N and C:N in Mediterranean evergreen oak woodland with conventional and organic tillage. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 164, 252-259. Francaviglia, R., Coleman, K., Whitmore, A.P., Doro, L., Urracci, G., Rubino, M., Ledda, L., 2012. Changes in soil organic carbon and climate change - application of the RothC model in agrosilvo-pastoral Mediterranean systems. Agric. Syst. 112, 48- 54. IPCC, 2007. Technical summary. In: Climate Change 2007. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change http://www.ipcc.ch/. Lozano-García, B., Parras-Alcántara, L. 2013. Land use and management effects on carbon and nitrogen in Mediterranean Cambisols. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 179, 208- 214. Muñoz-Rojas, M., Jordán, A., Zavala, L.M., González-Peñaloza, F.A., De la Rosa, D., Pino-Mejias, R., Anaya-Romero, M., 2013. Modelling soil organic carbon stocks in global change scenarios: a CarboSOIL application. Biogeosciences 10, 8253-8268. Muñoz-Rojas, M., Abd-Elmabod, S.K., Jordán, A., Zavala, L.M., Anaya-Romero, M., De la Rosa, D., 2014. Potential soil organic carbon stocks in semi arid areas under climate change scenarios: an application of CarboSOIL model in northern Egypt. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 16 EGU2014-638-3, EGU General Assembly. Muñoz-Rojas, M., Doro, L., Ledda, L. and Francaviglia, R. 2015. Application of CarboSOIL model to predict the effects of climate change on soil organic carbon stocks in agro-silvo-pastoral Mediterranean management. Agriculture, ecosystems and environment 202, 8-16. Parras-Alcántara, L., Lozano-García, B., Brevik, E.C., Cerdá, A. 2015. Soil organic carbon stocks assessment in Mediterranean natural areas: A comparison of entire soil profiles and soil control sections. Journal of Environmental Management 15, 155-215.

  11. Preface: Proceedings of the Colloidal Dispersions in External Fields II Conference (Bonn-Bad Godesberg, 31 March 2 April 2008)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Löwen, H.

    2008-10-01

    This special issue reflects the scientific programme of the International Colloidal Dispersions in External Fields Conference (CODEF II) that took place in Bonn-Bad Godesberg from 31 March-2 April 2008. This is the second conference in a series that started in 2004 when the first CODEF meeting was held. The proceedings of the first CODEF meeting were summarized in a previous special issue (Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 16 (issue 38)). The present issue represents recent progress in this rapidly developing field. The CODEF meeting series is held in conjunction with the German-Dutch Transregional Collaborative Research Centre SFB TR6 with the title Physics of Colloidal Dispersions in External Fields. Scientists working within this network as well as international invited guest speakers contributed to these meetings. The contributions in this issue are organized according to the type of different fields applied namely: bulk (no external field) shear flow electric field magnetic and laser-optical field confinement We would like to thank the CODEF II sponsors (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and MWFZ Mainz) for their financial support. Furthermore, we thank IOP Publishing for their willingness to publish the proceedings of this conference as a special issue. Participants O Alarcón-Waess (Puebla), M Allen (Coventry), J L Arauz-Lara (San Luis Potosi), L Assoud (Düsseldorf), G K Auernhammer (Mainz), R Backofen (Dresden), M Balbás-Gambra (Munich), J Bammert (Bayreuth), M Baptista (Mainz), J-L Barrat (Lyon), M Bier (Utrecht), K Binder (Mainz), R Blaak (Düsseldorf), V Blickle (Stuttgart), D Block (Kiel), S Böhm (Düsseldorf), V Botan (Mainz), J P Bouchaud (Paris), J Brader (Konstanz), G Brambilla (Montpellier), W J Briels (Enschede), M Brinkmann (Göttingen), C Brunet (Paris), H-J Butt (Mainz), M A Camargo Chaparro (Düsseldorf), R Castañeda Priego (Guanajuato), J J Cerdà Pino (Frankfurt), A Chatterji (Jülich), M Chavez Paez (San Luis Potosi), A Chremos (Edinburgh), D Y H Chui (Mainz), D Deb (Graz), C Dellago (Vienna), J Dhont (Jülich), P Dillmann (Konstanz), G Dominguez (Leipzig), M Duits (Enschede), B Dünweg (Mainz), F Ebert (Konstanz), S Egelhaaf (Düsseldorf), E Eggen (Utrecht), R Eichhorn (Bielefeld), E Eiser (Cambridge), H B Eral (Enschede), A Erbe (Konstanz), L Filion (Utrecht), G Foffi (Lausanne), J Fornleitner (Vienna), K Franzrahe (Konstanz), D Frenkel (Cambridge), M Fuchs (Konstanz), G Fytas (Heraklion), P Garstecki (Warsaw), I Gazuz (Konstanz), N Geerts (Amsterdam), G Gompper (Jülich), E Gonzalez-Tovar (San Luis Potosi), I Götze (Jülich), S Grandner (Berlin), L Gránásy (London), C Gutsche (Leipzig), D Hajnal (Mainz), R Hanes (Düsseldorf), A Härtel (Düsseldorf), P Henseler (Konstanz), C Hertlein (Stuttgart), C Holm (Mainz), J Hoogenboom (Barcelona), P Hopkins (Bristol), J Horbach (Cologne), C-C Huang (Jülich), K Huang (Göttingen), S Huißmann (Düsseldorf), M Humar (Ljubljana), S Iacopini (Mainz), A Imhof (Utrecht), A Ivlev (Garching), K Jacobs (Saarbrücken), J Jakobi (Hannover), O Jansen (Düsseldorf), M Jenkins (Düsseldorf), J Jordanovic (Berlin), S Jungblut (Mainz), M Kahn (Vienna), T Kalwarczyk (Warsaw), K Kegler (Leipzig), P Keim (Konstanz), Z Keqin (Singapore), U F Keyser (Leipzig), T Köller (Mainz), K Kremer (Mainz), M Krüger (Konstanz), A Kuijk (Utrecht), P Lang (Jülich), M Laurati (Düsseldorf), W Lechner (Vienna), H Lehle (Stuttgart), P Leiderer (Konstanz), H Lekkerkerker (Utrecht), P Lettinga (Jülich), A Libal (San Mart), B Lonetti (Jülich), N J Lorenz (Mainz), H Löwen (Düsseldorf), H Maleki (Mainz), J-G Malherbe (Paris), M Marechal (Utrecht), G Maret (Konstanz), C Mayer (Rome), S Mazoyer (Konstanz), M McPhie (Jülich), M Medina-Noyola (San Luis Potosi), A Melzer (Greifswald), A Menéndez-Manjón (Hannover), R Messina (Düsseldorf), H Michiel (Utrecht), P Mishra (Düsseldorf), J Mixteco (Guanajuato), B Moser (Düsseldorf), G Nägele (Jülich), R R Netz (Munich), P Nielaba (Konstanz), E Noruzifar (Mainz), M Oettel (Mainz), O Otto (Leipzig), S Overduin (Düsseldorf), E C Oğuz (Düsseldorf), T Palberg (Mainz), G Pauschenwein (Vienna), G Pellicane (Messina), F Pesth (Mainz), P Pfleiderer (Mainz), D J Pine (New York), D Pini (Milan), H Reiber (Mainz), V Reshetnyak (Kiev), M Rex (Düsseldorf), M Ripoll (Jülich), M Roth (Mainz), P Royall (Bristol), M Rubin-Zuzic (Garching), T Schilling (Mainz), A Schmidt (Düsseldorf), M Schmiedeberg (Berlin), H J Schöpe (Mainz), S Schreiber (Bayreuth), B Schumann (Düsseldorf), F Sciortino (Rome), L Shapran-Reiber (Mainz), M Siebenbürger (Bayreuth), S P Singh (New Delhi), R Siquieri (Aachen), F Smallenburg (Utrecht), I Snook (Melbourne), M Sperl (Cologne), J Stellbrink (Jülich), E Stiakakis (Jülich), T Szymborski (Warsaw), H Tanaka (Tokyo), P Tierno (Barcelona), U Tkalec (Ljubljana), A Tsigkri (Jülich), T Tückmantel (Düsseldorf), C Valeriani (Edinburgh), A van Blaaderen (Utrecht), E van den Pol (Utrecht), J van Meel (Amsterdam), P van Oostrum (Utrecht), R van Roij (Utrecht), S van Teeffelen (Düsseldorf), L Verhoeff (Utrecht), E Vermolen (Utrecht), R Vink (Göttingen), P Virnau (Mainz), T Voigtmann (Cologne), D Vollmer (Mainz), G J Vroege (Utrecht), H R Vutukuri (Utrecht), C Walz (Konstanz), M Walz (Erlangen), D A Weitz (Harvard), J Wenk (Düsseldorf), R Wensink (London), F Weyßer (Konstanz), L Willner (Jülich), R G Winkler (Jülich), A Wynveen (Düsseldorf), A Wysocki (Düsseldorf), J Zausch (Mainz), J Zhao (Mainz), M Zietara (Konstanz), U Zimmermann (Düsseldorf), J Zwanikken (Utrecht).

  12. Giant Galaxy Messier 87 finally sized up

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    2009-05-01

    Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, astronomers have succeeded in measuring the size of giant galaxy Messier 87 and were surprised to find that its outer parts have been stripped away by still unknown effects. The galaxy also appears to be on a collision course with another giant galaxy in this very dynamic cluster. ESO PR Photo 19a/09 The Intercluster Light ESO PR Photo 19b/09 Intergalactic Planetary Nebulae ESO PR Photo 19c/09 The Virgo Cluster The new observations reveal that Messier 87's halo of stars has been cut short, with a diameter of about a million light-years, significantly smaller than expected, despite being about three times the extent of the halo surrounding our Milky Way [1]. Beyond this zone only few intergalactic stars are seen. "This is an unexpected result," says co-author Ortwin Gerhard. "Numerical models predict that the halo around Messier 87 should be several times larger than our observations have revealed. Clearly, something must have cut the halo off early on." The team used FLAMES, the super-efficient spectrograph at ESO's Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, to make ultra-precise measurements of a host of planetary nebulae in the outskirts of Messier 87 and in the intergalactic space within the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, to which Messier 87 belongs. FLAMES can simultaneously take spectra many sources, spread over an area of the sky about the size of the Moon. The new result is quite an achievement. The observed light from a planetary nebula in the Virgo Cluster is as faint as that from a 30-Watt light bulb at a distance of about 6 million kilometres (about 15 times the Earth-Moon distance). Furthermore, planetary nebulae are thinly spread through the cluster, so even FLAMES's wide field of view could only capture a few tens of nebulae at a time. "It is a little bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, but in the dark", says team member Magda Arnaboldi. "The FLAMES spectrograph on the VLT was the best instrument for the job". At a distance of approximately 50 million light-years, the Virgo Cluster is the nearest galaxy cluster. It is located in the constellation of Virgo (the Virgin) and is a relatively young and sparse cluster. The cluster contains many hundreds of galaxies, including giant and massive elliptical galaxies, as well as more homely spirals like our own Milky Way. The astronomers have proposed several explanations for the discovered "cut-off" of Messier 87's, such as collapse of dark matter nearby in the galaxy cluster. It might also be that another galaxy in the cluster, Messier 84, came much closer to Messier 87 in the past and dramatically perturbed it about a billion years ago. "At this stage, we can't confirm any of these scenarios," says Arnaboldi. "We will need observations of many more planetary nebulae around Messier 87". One thing the astronomers are sure about, however, is that Messier 87 and its neighbour Messier 86 are falling towards each other. "We may be observing them in the phase just before the first close pass", says Gerhard. "The Virgo Cluster is still a very dynamic place and many things will continue to shape its galaxies over the next billion years." More Information Planetary nebulae (PNe) are the spectacular final phase in the life of Sun-like stars, when the star ejects its outer layers into the surrounding space. Their name is a relic of an earlier era: early observers, using only small telescopes, thought that some of these nearby objects, such as the "Helix Nebula" resembled the discs of the giant planets in the Solar System. Planetary nebulae have strong emission lines, which make them relatively easy to detect at great distances, and also allow their radial velocities to be measured precisely. So planetary nebulae can be used to investigate the motions of stars in the faint outer regions of distant galaxies where velocity measurements are otherwise not possible. Moreover, planetary nebulae are representative of the stellar population in general. As they are relatively short-lived (a few tens of thousands of years -- a mere blip on astronomical timescales), astronomers can estimate that one star in about 8000 million of Sun-like stars is visible as a planetary nebula at any given moment. Thus planetary nebulae can provide a unique handle on the number, types of stars and their motions in faint outer galaxy regions that may harbour a substantial amount of mass. These motions contain the fossil record of the history of galaxy interaction and the formation of the galaxy cluster. This research is presented in a paper to appear in Astronomy and Astrophysics: "The Edge of the M87 Halo and the Kinematics of the Diffuse Light in the Virgo Cluster Core," by Michelle Doherty et al. The team is composed of Michelle Doherty and Magda Arnaboldi (ESO), Payel Das and Ortwin Gerhard (Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, Germany), J. Alfonso L. Aguerri (IAC, Tenerife, Spain), Robin Ciardullo (Pennsylvania State University, USA), John J. Feldmeier (Youngstown State University, USA), Kenneth C. Freeman (Mount Stromlo Observatory, Australia), George H. Jacoby (WIYN Observatory, Tucson, AZ, USA), and Giuseppe Murante (INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Pino Torinese, Italy). ESO, the European Southern Observatory, is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe. It is supported by 14 countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in the Atacama Desert region of Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor.

  13. Hipparcos reveals that the Milky Way is changing shape

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    1998-04-01

    Our home Galaxy, the Milky Way, is roughly flat, with a bulge in the middle. As inhabitants of the disk we see it edge-on as the band of light across the night sky which gives the Galaxy its name, and which comes from billions of distant stars lying in the disk. Astronomers have known for many years that the disk is slightly warped. What surprises them now is that distant stars are travelling in directions that, if continued, will change the warped shape. Richard Smart of Turin Observatory, who is the lead author of the Nature paper, recounted, "Our results surprised us, but the extraordinary accuracy of Hipparos convinces us that distant stars have altered course. If we knew why, we'd be a lot wiser about the unseen hand of gravity at work in our Galaxy and others." Tilted orbits and contradictory tracks The Hipparcos satellite measured the positions and motions of stars far more precisely than ever before. Even before ESA's publication last year of the Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues, of 118,000 and a million stars respectively, the Turin-Oxford group of astronomers had privileged access to some of the more exact Hipparcos Catalogue data. They obtained positions and motions of 2422 very luminous blue stars spread half-way around the sky, selecting stars that turned out to be lying more than 1600 light-years away, towards the outskirts of the Galaxy. Like the billions of other stars inhabiting the disk of the Milky Way, the Sun slowly orbits around the centre of the Galaxy, taking 220 million years to make one circuit. Inside the Sun's orbit, astronomers see no warp in the disk of the Milky Way. But outlying stars in the direction of the Cygnus constellation lie north of, or above, the plane of the Sun's orbit. Those in the opposite direction, in the Vela constellation, are displaced southward, below their expected positions if the Milky Way were truly flat. The first use made of the Hipparcos data by the Turin-Oxford group was to check the precise shape of the warped disk of the Galaxy. Before Hipparcos, observations of stellar positions indicated that the warp started outside Sun's orbit and had general upward and downward turns. The very precise star-fixing by Hipparcos showed the warp starting inside the Sun's orbit, with the more distant outlying parts of the Galaxy slanting more than the nearer parts do. As a result, the disk has an elegantly curved shape, like the brim of a hat. If this shape of the warped disk were long-lasting, astronomers would expect the stars to follow corresponding orbits. Thus outlying stars in the Taurus constellation, midway between Vela and Cygnus, should be climbing "uphill" if they are to replace the stars lying high in Cygnus at present. The appropriate track for each star can be calculated, on the assumption that the warp will persist. Before they could accurately compare the calculated motions with those detected by Hipparcos, Richard Smart and his colleagues had to take into account the Sun's own vertical motion. Like many stars, the Sun jumps and swoops like a dolphin as it proceeds in its orbit around the centre of the Galaxy. Hipparcos data show that the Sun is at present rising at 7 kilometres per second, relative to the disk of the Milky Way. Outlying stars also show dolphin-like behaviour, so a statistical approach is needed, to gauge their average vertical motion. At a distance of 6000 light-years, in the direction of Taurus, the stars should on average be climbing northwards, relative to the Sun's orbit, at about 8 kilometres per second. The amazing conclusion by the Turin- Oxford group is that stars at that distance are on average descending southwards at 7 kilometres per second. They cannot replace the present stars in the Milky Way in Cygnus. Instead they will go to positions shifted southwards in relation to the disk of the Milky Way -- unless some new disturbance makes the stars change course again. What warps galaxies? The Milky Way is not the only galaxy to show deformations of its disk. About half of all other disk galaxies are seen to be misshapen. This remarkably high proportion may mean that galaxies are so rigid that any warp, once established, lasts for billions of years. Alternatively, galaxies may be very floppy, with new warps being created all the time. The Hipparcos result on the Milky Way may favour the latter, more dynamic interpretation. The riddle of what warps galaxies has puzzled astronomers for decades. Explanations on offer range from intergalactic winds to magnetic contortions. A popular theory blames the warp in the Milky Way on the gravitational pull of invisible dark matter in the halo of the Galaxy. This would imply that the present warp should be a long-lived phenomenon. As the warp may now be only temporary, other explanations will be favoured. Mario Lattanzi, of the Turin group, puts it this way: "As is often the case in experimental science, better experimental data challenge our current understanding of how the Milky Way works." Prominent among the rival proposals about the warping of galaxies is the gravitational (tidal) effect of other galaxies passing close by. In the case of the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds and the recently discovered Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy are candidates as warping agents. But Smart and his colleagues confess themselves to be baffled. "We are obliged to conclude," they write, "that there is currently no convincing interpretation of the implications of Hipparcos data for the dynamics of the warp in the Galactic disk." The reference to the "Nature" paper is: Vol. 392, pp. 471-473. The authors are R.L. Smart,R. Drimmel, M.G. Lattanzi (Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, Pino Torinese, TO 10025, Italy) and J.J. Binney (Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3NP, UK).

  14. Modeling of the impact of Rhone River nutrient inputs on the dynamics of planktonic diversity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alekseenko, Elena; Baklouti, Melika; Garreau, Pierre; Guyennon, Arnaud; Carlotti, François

    2014-05-01

    Recent studies devoted to the Mediterranean Sea highlight that a large number of uncertainties still exist particularly as regards the variations of elemental stoichiometry of all compartments of pelagic ecosystems (The MerMex Group, 2011, Pujo-Pay et al., 2011, Malatonne-Rizotti and the Pan-Med Group, 2012). Moreover, during the last two decades, it was observed that the inorganic ratio N:P ratio in among all the Mediterranean rivers, including the Rhone River, has dramatically increased, thus strengthening the P-limitation in the Mediterranean waters (Ludwig et al, 2009, The MerMex group, 2011) and increasing the anomaly in the ratio N:P of the Gulf of Lions and all the western part of NW Mediterranean. At which time scales such a change will impact the biogeochemical stocks and fluxes of the Gulf of Lion and of the whole NW Mediterranean sea still remains unknown. In the same way, it is still uncertain how this increase in the N:P ratio will modify the composition of the trophic web, and potentially lead to regime shifts by favouring for example one of the classical food chains of the sea considered in Parsons & Lalli (2002). To address this question, the Eco3M-MED biogeochemical model (Baklouti et al., 2006a,b, Alekseenko et al., 2014) representing the first trophic levels from bacteria to mesozooplankton, coupled with the hydrodynamical model MARS3D (Lazure&Dumas, 2008) is used. This model has already been partially validated (Alekseenko et al., 2014) and the fact that it describes each biogenic compartment in terms of its abundance (for organisms), and carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen and chlorophyll (for autotrophs) implies that all the information on the intracellular status of organisms and on the element(s) that limit(s) their growth will be available. The N:P ratios in water, organisms and in the exported material will also be analyzed. In practice, the work will first consist in running different scenarios starting from similar initial early winter conditions (for which the sea surface layer is well mixed). As a first step, these scenarios will allow to investigate the impact of changes in the N:P ratios of the Rhone River on the structure of the planktonic community at short time scale (two years). Acknowledgements The present research is a contribution to the Labex OT-Med (n° ANR-11-LABX-0061) funded by the French Government «Investissements d'Avenir» program of the French National Research Agency (ANR) through the A*MIDEX project (n° ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02). We thank our collegue P. Raimbault for the access to the MOOSE project dataset about the nutrient composition of the Rhone River . References Alekseenko E., Raybaud V., Espinasse B., Carlotti F., Queguiner B., Thouvenin B., Garreau P., Baklouti M. (2014) Seasonal dynamics and stoichiometry of the planktonic community in the NW Mediterranean Sea: a 3D modeling approach. Ocean Dynamics IN PRESS. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10236-013-0669-2 Baklouti M, Diaz F, Pinazo C, Faure V, Quequiner B (2006a) Investigation of mechanistic formulations depicting phytoplankton dynamics for models of marine pelagic ecosystems and description of a new model. Prog Oceanogr 71:1-33 Baklouti M, Faure V, Pawlowski L, Sciandra A (2006b) Investigation and sensitivity analysis of a mechanistic phytoplankton model implemented in a new modular tool (Eco3M) dedicated to biogeochemical modelling. Prog Oceanogr 71:34-58 Lazure P, Dumas F (2008) An external-internal mode coupling for a 3D hydrodynamical model for applications at regional scale (MARS). Adv Water Resour 31(2):233-250 Ludwig, W., Dumont, E., Meybeck, M., Heussner, S. (2009). River discharges of water and nutrients to the Mediterranean and Black Sea: Major drivers for ecosystem changes during past and future decades? Progress in Oceanography 80, pp. 199-217 Malanotte-Rizoli, P. and Pan-Med Group. (2012) Physical forcing and physical/biochemical variability of the Mediterranean Sea : A review of unresolved issues and directions of future research. Report of the Workshop «Variability of the Eastern and Western Mediterranean circulation and termohaline properties : similarities and differences ». Rome, 7-9 November, 2011, 48 pp. Parsons, T. R., and Lalli, C. M. (2002) Jellyfish population explosions: Revisiting a hypothesis of possible causes. La Mer 40: 111-121. Pujo-Pay, M., Conan, P., Oriol L., Cornet-Barthaux, V., Falco, C., Ghiglione, J.-F., Goyet, C., Moutin, T. and Prieur, L. (2011) Integrated survey of elemental stoichiometry (C, N, P) from the western to eastern Mediterranean Sea, Biogeoscciences, 8, 883-899. The MerMex Group, Durrieu de Madron X, Guieu C, Sempéré R, Conan P, Cossa D, D'Ortenzio F, Estournel C, Gazeau F, Rabouille C, Stemmann L, Bonnet S, Diaz F, Koubbi P, Radakovitch O, Babin M, Baklouti M, Bancon-Montigny C, Belviso S, Bensoussan N, Bonsang B, Bouloubassi I, Brunet C, Cadiou J-F, Carlotti F, Chami M, Charmasson S, Charrière B, Dachs J, Doxaran D, Dutay J-C, Elbaz-Poulichet F, Eléaume M, Eyrolles F, Fernandez C, Fowler S, Francour P, Gaertner JC, Galzin R, Gasparini S, Ghiglione J-F, Gonzalez J-L, Goyet C, Guidi L, Guizien K, Heimbürger L-E, Jacquet SHM, Jeffrey WH, Joux F, Le Hir P, Leblanc K, Lefèvre D, Lejeusne C, Lemé R, Loÿe-Pilot M-D, Mallet M, Méjanelle L,Mélin F, Mellon C, Mérigot B, Merle P-L, Migon C, Miller WL, Mortier L, Mostajir B, Mousseau L, Moutin T, Para J, Pérez T, Petrenko A, Poggiale J-C, Prieur L, Pujo-Pay M, Pulido-Villena, Raimbult P, Rees AP, Ridame C, Rontani J-F, Ruiz Pino D, Sicre MA, Taillandier V, Tamburini C, Tanaka T, Taupier-Letage I, Tedetti M, Testor P, Thébault H, Thouvenin B, Touratier F, Tronczynski J, Ulses C, Van Wambeke F, Vantrepotte V, Vaz S, Verney R (2011) Marine ecosystems' responses to climatic and anthropogenic forcings in the Mediterranean. Prog Oceanogr 91:97-166

  15. Ash in fire affected ecosystems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pereira, Paulo; Jordan, Antonio; Cerda, Artemi; Martin, Deborah

    2015-04-01

    Ash in fire affected ecosystems Ash lefts an important footprint in the ecosystems and has a key role in the immediate period after the fire (Bodi et al., 2014; Pereira et al., 2015). It is an important source of nutrients for plant recover (Pereira et al., 2014a), protects soil from erosion and controls soil hydrological process as runoff, infiltration and water repellency (Cerda and Doerr, 2008; Bodi et al., 2012, Pereira et al., 2014b). Despite the recognition of ash impact and contribution to ecosystems recuperation, it is assumed that we still have little knowledge about the implications of ash in fire affected areas. Regarding this situation we wanted to improve our knowledge in this field and understand the state of the research about fire ash around world. The special issue about "The role of ash in fire affected ecosystems" currently in publication in CATENA born from the necessity of joint efforts, identify research gaps, and discuss future cooperation in this interdisciplinary field. This is the first special issue about fire ash in the international literature. In total it will be published 10 papers focused in different aspects of the impacts of ash in fire affected ecosystems from several parts of the world: • Fire reconstruction using charcoal particles (Burjachs and Espositio, in press) • Ash slurries impact on rheological properties of Runoff (Burns and Gabet, in press) • Methods to analyse ash conductivity and sorbtivity in the laboratory and in the field (Balfour et al., in press) • Termogravimetric and hydrological properties of ash (Dlapa et al. in press) • Effects of ash cover in water infiltration (Leon et al., in press) • Impact of ash in volcanic soils (Dorta Almenar et al., in press; Escuday et al., in press) • Ash PAH and Chemical extracts (Silva et al., in press) • Microbiology (Barreiro et al., in press; Lombao et al., in press) We believe that this special issue will contribute importantly to the better understanding of the role of ash in fire affected areas. Acknowledgments The 'Litfire' Project (MIP-048/2011; 181 Pereira) funded by the Lithuanian Research Council, Soil quality, erosion control and plant cover recovery under different post-firemanagement scenarios (POSTFIRE), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CGL2013-47862-C2-1-R), Preventing and Remediating Degradation of Soils in Europe Through Land Care (RECARE) funded by the European Commission (FP7-ENV-2013-TWO STAGE) and European Research Project LEDDRA (243857) and COST action ES1306 (Connecting European connectivity research). References Balfour, V.N., Determining wildfire ash saturated hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity with laboratory and field methods. Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.01.009 Barreiro, A., Fontúrbel, M.T., Lombao, A., Martín, C., Vega, J.A., Fernández, C., Carballas, T., Díaz-Raviña, M., Using phospholipid fatty acid and community level physiological profiling techniques to characterize soil microbial communities following an experimental fire and different stabilization treatments. Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.07.011 Bodi, M., Martin, D.A., Santin, C., Balfour, V., Doerr, S.H., Pereira, P., Cerda, A., Mataix-Solera, J. (2014) Wildland fire ash: production, composition and eco-hydro-geomorphic effects. Earth-Science Reviews, 130, 103-127. Bodí, M.B., Doerr, S.H., Cerdà, A. and Mataix-Solera, J. (2012) Hydrological effects of a layer of vegetation ash on underlying wettable and water repellent soils. Geoderma, 191, 14-23. Burjachs, F., Expósito, I., Charcoal and pollen analysis: examples of Holocene fire dynamics in Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula. Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.10.006 Burns, K., Gabet, E., The effective viscosity of slurries laden with vegetative ash. Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.06.008 Cerdà, A. Doerr, S.H. (2008). The effect of ash and needle cover on surface runoff and erosion in the immediate post-fire period. Catena, 74 , 256-263. Dlapa, P., Bodí, M.B., Mataix-Solera, J., Cerdà, A., Doerr, S.H., Organic matter and wettability characteristics of wildfire ash from Mediterranean conifer forests. Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.06.018 Dorta Almenar, I., Navarro Rivero, F.J., Arbelo, C.D., Rodríguez, A., Notario del Pino, J., The temporal distribution of water-soluble nutrients from high mountain soils following a wildfire within legume scrubland of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Catena. Escuday, M., Arancibia-Miranda, N., Pizarro, C., Antilén, M., Effect of ash from forest fires on leaching in volcanic soils. Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.08.006 León, J., Echeverría, M.T., Marti, C., Badía, D., Can ash control infiltration rate after burning? An example in burned calcareous and gypseous soils in the Ebro Basin (NE Spain). Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.05.024 Lombao, A., Barreiro, A., Carballas, T., Fontúrbel, M.T., Martín, C., Vega, J.A., Fernández, C., Díaz-Raviña, M., 2014. Changes in soil properties after a wildfire in Fragas do Eume Natural Park (Galicia, NW Spain). Catena. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.08.007 Pereira, P., Jordan, A., Cerda, A., Martin, D. (2014) Editorial: The role of ash in fire-affected ecosystems, Catena (In press) doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.11.016 Pereira, P., Úbeda, X., Martin, D., Mataix-Solera, J., Cerdà, A., Burguet, M. (2014a) Wildfire effects on extractable elements in ash from a Pinus pinaster forest in Portugal, Hydrological Processes, 28, 3681-3690. Pereira, P., Ubeda, X., Mataix-Solera, J., Oliva, M., Novara, A. (2014) Short-term spatio-temporal spring grassland fire effects on soil colour,organic matter and water repellency in Lithuania, Solid Earth, 5, 209-225. Silva, V., Pereira, J.S., Campos, I., Keizer, J.J., Gonçalves, F., Abrantes, N., Toxicity assessment of aqueous extracts of ash from forest fires. Catena doi:10.1016/j.catena.2014.06.021

  16. PREFACE: 5th International Workshop DICE2010: Space-Time-Matter - Current Issues in Quantum Mechanics and Beyond

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Diósi, Lajos; Elze, Hans-Thomas; Fronzoni, Leone; Halliwell, Jonathan; Prati, Enrico; Vitiello, Giuseppe; Yearsley, James

    2011-07-01

    These proceedings present the Invited Lectures and Contributed Papers of the Fifth International Workshop on Decoherence, Information, Complexity and Entropy - DICE 2010, held at Castello Pasquini, Castiglioncello (Tuscany), 13-17 September 2010. These proceedings are intended to document the stimulating exchange of ideas at this conference for both the interested public and the wider scientific community, as well as for the participants. The number of participants attending this series of meetings has been growing steadily, which reflects its increasing attraction. Our intention to bring together leading researchers, advanced students, and renowned scholars from various areas in order to stimulate new ideas and their exchange across the borders of specialization seems to bear fruit. In this way, the series of meetings has continued successfully from the beginning with DICE 2002 [1], followed by DICE 2004 [2], DICE 2006 [3], and DICE 2008 [4], uniting more than 100 participants representing almost 30 countries worldwide. It has been a great honour and inspiration to have Professor Luc Montagnier (Nobel Prize for Medicine 2008) from the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention with us, who presented the lecture DNA waves and water (included in this volume). The discussions took place under the wider theme Space-Time-Matter - current issues in quantum mechanics and beyond in the very pleasant and inspiring atmosphere of Castello Pasquini, which - with its beautiful surroundings, overlooking the Tuscany coast - hosted the conference very successfully for the second time. The five-day program was grouped according to the following topics: Gravity and Quantum Mechanics Quantum Coherent Processes in Biology / Many-Body Systems From Quantum Foundations to Particle Physics The Deep Structure of Spacetime Quantum - Relativity - Cosmology A Public Roundtable Discussion formed an integral part of the program under the theme Sull' Onda Della Coerenza" - le nuove frontiere della scienza moderna with the participation of E Del Giudice (INFN & Università di Milano), L Fronzoni (Università di Pisa) and G Vitiello (Università di Salerno). By now forming a tradition, this evening event drew a large audience, who participated in lively discussions until late. The workshop was organized by L Diósi (Budapest), H-T Elze (Pisa, chair), L Fronzoni (Pisa), J Halliwell (London), E Prati (Milano) and G Vitiello (Salerno), with essential help from our conference seceretaries M Pesce-Rollins and L Baldini and from our students G Gambarotta and F Vallone, all from Pisa. Several institutions and sponsors supported the workshop; their representatives and, in particular, the citizens of Rosignano / Castiglioncello are deeply thanked for their generous help and kind hospitality: Comune di Rosignano - A Franchi (Sindaco di Rosignano), S Scarpellini (Segreteria sindaco), L Benini (Assessore ai lavori pubblici), M Pia (Assessore all' urbanistica). REA Rosignano Energia Ambiente s.p.a. - F Ghelardini (Presidente della REA), E Salvadori (Segreteria). Associazione Armunia - M Paganelli (Direttore), G Mannari (Programmazione). Special thanks go to G Mannari and her collaborators for their advice and great help in all the practical matters that had to be dealt with in order to run the meeting at Castello Pasquini smoothly. Funds made available by Università di Pisa, by Domus Galilaeana (Pisa), Centro Interdisciplinare per lo Studio dei Sistemi Complessi - CISSC (Pisa), Dipartmento di Matematica e Informatica (Università di Salerno), Instituto Italiano per gli Studi Filosofici - IISF (Napoli), and by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund OTKA, are gratefully ackowledged. Last, but not least, special thanks are due to Laura Pesce (Vitrium Galleria, San Vincenzo) for the exposition for her artwork Dal io al cosmo at Castello Pasquini during the conference. The papers presented at the workshop and collected here have been edited by L Diósi, H-T Elze, L Fronzoni, J J Halliwell, E Prati, G Vitiello and J Yearsley. The proceedings essentially follow the order of presentation during the conference program, however, divided into Invited Lectures and Contributed Papers. (We regret that lectures by D Bouwmeester, G G Guerreschi, G C Ghirardi and C Kiefer could not be reproduced here, partly for copyright reasons.) In the name of all the participants, we would like to thank S Toms and G Douglas, and their collaborators at IOP Publishing (Bristol) for their friendly advice and most valuable and immediate help during the editing process and, especially, for their continuing efforts to make the Journal of Physics: Conference Series available to all. Budapest, Pisa, London, Milano and Salerno, May 2011 Lajos Diósi, Hans-Thomas Elze, Leone Fronzoni, Jonathan Halliwell, Enrico Prati, Guiseppe Vitiello and James Yearsley [1] Elze H-T (ed) 2004 Decoherence and Entropy in Complex Systems Lecture Notes in Physics 633 (Berlin: Springer) [2] Elze H-T (ed) 2005 Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Decoherence, Information, Complexity and Entropy - DICE 2004 Braz. Journ. Phys. 35 2A and B pp 205-529free access at: www.sbfisica.org.br/bjp[3] Elze H-T, Diósi L, Fronzoni L, Halliwell J J and Vitiello (eds) 2007 Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Decoherence, Information, Complexity and Entropy - DICE 2006 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 67free access at: www.iop.org/EJ/toc/1742-6596/67/1[4] Elze H-T, Diósi L, Fronzoni L, Halliwell J J and G Vitiello (eds) 2009 Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on Decoherence, Information, Complexity and Entropy - DICE 2008 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 174free access at: www.iop.org/EJ/toc/1742-6596/67/1

  17. California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Monterey, California

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Johnson, Samuel Y.; Dartnell, Peter; Hartwell, Stephen R.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Golden, Nadine E.; Watt, Janet T.; Davenport, Clifton W.; Kvitek, Rikk G.; Erdey, Mercedes D.; Krigsman, Lisa M.; Sliter, Ray W.; Maier, Katherine L.; Johnson, Samuel Y.; Cochran, Susan A.

    2016-08-18

    IntroductionIn 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the 3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed seafloor maps through collection, integration, interpretation, and visualization of swath bathymetry data, acoustic backscatter, seafloor video, seafloor photography, high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles, and bottom-sediment sampling data. The map products display seafloor morphology and character, identify potential marine benthic habitats, and illustrate both the surficial seafloor geology and shallow subsurface geology.The Offshore of Monterey map area in central California is located on the Pacific Coast, about 120 km south of San Francisco. Incorporated cities in the map area include Seaside, Monterey, Marina, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Sand City. The local economy receives significant resources from tourism, as well as from the Federal Government. Tourist attractions include the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the many golf courses near Pebble Beach, and the area serves as a gateway to the spectacular scenery and outdoor activities along the Big Sur coast to the south. Federal facilities include the Army’s Defense Language Institute, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (operated by the Navy). In 1994, Fort Ord army base, located between Seaside and Marina, was closed; much of former army base land now makes up the Fort Ord National Monument, managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as part of the National Landscape Conservation System. In addition, part of the old Fort Ord is now occupied by California State University, Monterey Bay.The offshore part of the map area lies entirely within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the nation’s largest marine sanctuaries. State beaches and parks within the map area include Fort Ord Dunes State Park and the Marina, Monterey, and Asilomar State Beaches, as well as Carmel River State Beach, which includes the Carmel River Lagoon and Wetland Natural Preserve. The map area also includes all or part of several State Marine Protected Areas, including the Carmel Pinnacles, Asilomar, and Lovers Point–Julia Platt State Marine Reserves, as well as the Carmel Bay, Pacific Grove Marine Gardens, Edward F. Ricketts, and Portuguese Ledge State Marine Conservation Areas.The coastal zone in the map area is characterized by two distinct physiographies. From Marina to Monterey, sandy beaches are backed by a belt of sand dunes, as much as 30 to 40 m high and as wide as 8 km. The Salinas River supplies the sand for the beaches and dunes. Nearshore sediment transport is primarily to the south, in the southern Monterey littoral cell.Along the Monterey peninsula, which lies at the north end of the rugged Santa Lucia Range, coastal relief is very different. The peninsula is characterized largely by low marine terraces that formed mostly on hard and relatively stable granitic bedrock. Carmel Beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea is the longest continuous beach in this area; bedrock points and small pocket beaches characterize most of the rest of the peninsula. The Carmel River littoral cell extends along the coast from Point Pinos to Point Lobos (just south of the map area), including Carmel Beach; sediment transport is primarily to the south.The granitic rocks that crop out so prominently along the Monterey peninsula make up part of the Salinian block, a crustal terrane that in this area lies west of the San Andreas Fault and east of the San Gregorio Fault. The strike-slip San Andreas Fault Zone, which lies just 26 km east of the map area, is the most important structure within the Pacific–North American transform plate boundary. The San Gregorio Fault, a secondary fault within the distributed plate boundary, cuts through (and is roughly aligned with) Carmel Canyon, a submarine canyon in the southwest corner of the map area that is part of the Monterey Canyon system. The San Gregorio Fault Zone is part of a fault system that is present predominantly in the offshore for about 400 km, from Point Conception in the south (where it is known as the Hosgri Fault) to Bolinas and Point Reyes in the north.The offshore part of the map area primarily consists of relatively flat continental shelf, bounded on the west by the steep flanks of Carmel Canyon. Shelf width varies from 2 to 3 km in the southern part of the map area, near the mouth of Carmel Canyon, to 14 km in Monterey Bay. Bedrock beneath the shelf is overlain in many areas by variable amounts (0 to 16 m) of upper Quaternary shelf and nearshore sediments deposited as sea level fluctuated in the late Pleistocene. “Soft-induration,” unconsolidated sediment is the dominant (about 63 percent) habitat type on the continental shelf, followed by “hard-induration” rock and boulders (about 34 percent) and “mixed-induration” substrate (about 3 percent). At water depths of about 100 to 130 m, the shelf break approximates the shoreline during the sea-level lowstand of the Last Glacial Maximum, about 21,000 years ago.Carmel Canyon and other parts of the Monterey Canyon system in the map area extend from the shelf break to water depths that reach 1,600 m. Most of the extensive incision of the shelf break and canyon flanks probably occurred during repeated Quaternary sea-level lowstands. The relatively straight floor of Carmel Canyon notably is aligned with the San Gregorio Fault Zone. Mixed hard-soft substrate is the most common (about 51 percent) habitat type in Carmel Canyon; hard bedrock and soft, unconsolidated sediment cover about 40 percent and 9 percent of canyon habitat, respectively.This part of the central California coast is exposed to large North Pacific swells from the northwest throughout the year. Wave heights range from 2 to 10 m, the larger swells occurring from October to May. During El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, winter storms track farther south than they do in normal (non-ENSO) years, thereby impacting the map area more frequently and with waves of larger heights.Benthic species observed in the map area are natives of the cold-temperate biogeographic zone that is called either the “Oregonian province” or the “northern California ecoregion.” This biogeographic province is maintained by the long-term stability of the southward-flowing California Current, the eastern limb of the North Pacific subtropical gyre that flows from southern British Columbia to Baja California.Biological productivity resulting from coastal upwelling supports populations of Sooty Shearwater, Western Gull, Common Murre, Cassin’s Auklet, and many other less populous bird species. An observable recovery of Humpback and Blue Whales has occurred in the area; both species are dependent on coastal upwelling to provide nutrients. The large extent of exposed inner shelf bedrock supports large forests of “bull kelp,” which is well adapted for high-wave-energy environments. The kelp beds are well-known habitat for the population of southern sea otters. Common fish species found in the kelp beds and rocky reefs include lingcod and various species of rockfish and greenling.

  18. Modelling of the impact of the Rhone River N:P ratios over the NW Mediterranean planktonic food web

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alekseenko, Elena; Baklouti, Melika; Carlotti, François

    2016-04-01

    The origin of the high N:P ratios in the Mediterranean Sea is one of the remaining important questions raised by the scientific community. During the last two decades it was observed that the inorganic ratio NO3:PO4 ratio in major Mediterranean rivers including the Rhone River has dramatically increased, thereby strengthening the P-limitation in the Mediterranean waters (Ludwig et al, 2009, The MerMex group, 2011) and, as a result, increasing the anomaly in the ratio NO3:PO4 of the Gulf of Lions (GoL) and in all the western part of NW Mediterranean. The N:P ratios in seawater and in the metabolic requirements for plankton growth are indeed of particular interest, as these proportions determine which nutrient will limit biological productivity at the base of the food web and may select plankton communities with distinct biogeochemical function (Deutsch &Weber, 2012). In this context, an in the same spirit as the study of Parsons & Lalli (2002), an interesting question is whether high NO3:PO4 ratios in sea water can favor dead-end gelatinous food chains to the detriment of chains producing fish or direct food for fish . More generally, we aim at characterizing the impact of changes in the NO3:PO4 ratio on the structure of the planktonic food web in the Mediterranean Sea. Coupled physical-biogeochemical modeling with the Eco3M-MED biogeochemical model (Baklouti et al., 2006a,b, Alekseenko et al., 2014) coupled with the hydrodynamic model MARS3D (Lazure&Dumas, 2008) is used to investigate the impact of Rhone River inputs on the structure of the first levels of the trophic web of the NW Mediterranean Sea. The fact that the model describes each biogenic compartment in terms of its abundance (for organisms), and carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen and chlorophyll (for autotrophs) contents means that the intracellular quotas and ratios of each organism can be calculated at any time. This provides information on the intracellular status of organisms, on the elements that limit their growth and ultimately enhances our understanding of the functioning of this planktonic food-web. The present work consisted in running two different scenarios (low and high NO3:PO4 in the Rhone River). The lower ratio is the one presently found in the Rhône river outputs while the higher ratio is twice the lower one.The study focused on a one-year period (2010) since the model outputs during this period have already been partially validated (Alekseenko et al., 2014). At this stage, we first explore the spatial and temporal dynamics of the carbon stocks, in living and non-living compartments as well as related carbon fluxes. Results showed that, after one year of simulation, the change in NO3:PO4 of Rhone River mostly impacts organisms in the shelf zone of GoL, and especially the lowest trophic levels during the spring phytoplankton bloom. The increase in NO3:PO4 decreases primary production and bacterial production rates, thereby decreasing food availability for zooplankton which population growth decreases. During the spring phytoplankton bloom period, the decrease in Chl-a induced by the high NO3:PO4 Rhone ratio has an order of value comparable to the Chl-a mean level observed in the GoL. In the case of the scenario with high NO3:PO4 ratio, bacterial production increases after the spring bloom, what, in turn, increases the development of ciliates. The impact of NO3:PO4 scenarios on the mesozooplankton and jellyfish compartments considered in the model is overall low after a one-year simulation, but, probably due to their longer life cycle comparing to smaller organisms, this should be investigated at longer time scales. Acknowledgements The present research is a contribution to the Labex OT-Med (n_ ANR-11-LABX-0061) funded by the French Government «Investissements d'Avenir» program of the French National Research Agency (ANR) through the A*MIDEX project (n_ ANR-11 IDEX-0001-02). The work is also partially supported by the grant of Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) n°16-35-00526. References 1. Alekseenko E., Raybaud V., Espinasse B., Carlotti F., Queguiner B., Thouvenin B., Garreau P., Baklouti M. (2014) Seasonal dynamics and stoichiometry of the planktonic community in the NW Mediterranean Sea: a 3D modeling approach. Ocean Dynamics IN PRESS. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10236-013-0669-2 2. Baklouti M, Diaz F, Pinazo C, Faure V, Quequiner B (2006a) Investigation of mechanistic formulations depicting phytoplankton dynamics for models of marine pelagic ecosystems and description of a new model. Prog Oceanogr 71:1-33 3. Baklouti M, Faure V, Pawlowski L, Sciandra A (2006b) Investigation and sensitivity analysis of a mechanistic phytoplankton model implemented in a new modular tool (Eco3M) dedicated to biogeochemical modelling. Prog Oceanogr 71:34-58 4. Deutsch, C. and Weber, T. (2012) Nutrient ratios as a tracer and driver of ocean biogeochemistry. Annual Review of Marine Science, 4:113-141 5. Krom MD, Herut B, Mantoura RFC (2000) Nutrient budget for the Eastern Mediterranean: implications for phosphorus limitation. Limnol Oceanogr 49(5):1582-1592 6. Lazure P, Dumas F (2008) An external-internal mode coupling for a 3D hydrodynamical model for applications at regional scale (MARS). Adv Water Resour 31(2):233-250 7. Ludwig, W., Dumont, E., Meybeck, M., Heussner, S. (2009). River discharges of water and nutrients to the Mediterranean and Black Sea: Major drivers for ecosystem changes during past and future decades? Progress in Oceanography 80, pp. 199-217 8. Parsons, T. R., and Lalli, C. M. (2002) Jellyfish population explosions: Revisiting a hypothesis of possible causes. La Mer 40: 111-121. 9. The MerMex Group, Durrieu de Madron X, Guieu C, Sempéré R, Conan P, Cossa D, D'Ortenzio F, Estournel C, Gazeau F, Rabouille C, Stemmann L, Bonnet S, Diaz F, Koubbi P, Radakovitch O, Babin M, Baklouti M, Bancon-Montigny C, Belviso S, Bensoussan N, Bonsang B, Bouloubassi I, Brunet C, Cadiou J-F, Carlotti F, Chami M, Charmasson S, Charrière B, Dachs J, Doxaran D, Dutay J-C, Elbaz-Poulichet F, Eléaume M, Eyrolles F, Fernandez C, Fowler S, Francour P, Gaertner JC, Galzin R, Gasparini S, Ghiglione J-F, Gonzalez J-L, Goyet C, Guidi L, Guizien K, Heimbürger L-E, Jacquet SHM, Jeffrey WH, Joux F, Le Hir P, Leblanc K, Lefèvre D, Lejeusne C, Lemé R, Loÿe-Pilot M-D, Mallet M, Méjanelle L,Mélin F, Mellon C, Mérigot B, Merle P-L, Migon C, Miller WL, Mortier L, Mostajir B, Mousseau L, Moutin T, Para J, Pérez T, Petrenko A, Poggiale J-C, Prieur L, Pujo-Pay M, Pulido-Villena, Raimbult P, Rees AP, Ridame C, Rontani J-F, Ruiz Pino D, Sicre MA, Taillandier V, Tamburini C, Tanaka T, Taupier-Letage I, Tedetti M, Testor P, Thébault H, Thouvenin B, Touratier F, Tronczynski J, Ulses C, Van Wambeke F, Vantrepotte V, Vaz S, Verney R (2011) Marine ecosystems' responses to climatic and anthropogenic forcings in the Mediterranean. Prog Oceanogr 91:97-166

  19. News & Announcements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    1999-09-01

    Unification of Journal Options Beginning in 2000, the Journal subscription form will get much simpler and your Journal subscription will bring you even more than previously. Below is an outline of how the new system will work for individuals. Subscriptions for Individuals

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    JCE: A Good Deal That Keeps Getting Better If you carry copies of JCE around in hopes of finding time to read them, you may think they are getting heavierand they are. Your Journal was more than a third bigger in 1998 than it was in 1995! We have printed more pages every year since 1996 (see graph for the past 25 years). We estimate that you will receive more than 2000 pages this year and even more next year. This is more pages than at any time in the Journal 's history, excepting the four years 1929-1932, when the pages were smaller. We are printing more pages because we need to. We have many good manuscripts that have been peer reviewed and accepted and now are awaiting publication in print. The time between acceptance of a manuscript and its publication is already too long. Unless we print more pages, it will grow longer. For the past three years we have been slowly but steadily reducing this publication lag, and we don't want to stop now. 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This is a 31% increase over 1995 (less than 21% if inflation is taken into account), which is significantly below the estimated 40% increase in number of pages you will receive in 2000. Another way to see the tremendous value of JCE is to compare the cost per page for various journals. JCE costs less per printed page than any other journal we know. A quick survey revealed that cost per page ranges from 2 cents for JCE to 2-28 cents for various ACS journals to 46 cents for a science education research journal published by a commercial publisher to as much as 2 for a commercially published science research journal. JCE 's costs to institutional subscribers such as libraries are even more favorable by comparison with other journals, because we want JCE to be accessible to libraries in high schools and small colleges. How can we afford to be such a bargain? The entire community of chemical education contributes to writing, reviewing, and testing the materials we publish. Some members volunteer even more time as feature editors. The editorial staff work hard and often spend more than the typical work week doing their jobs superlatively and making this a great Journal. The Board of Publication, the Division of Chemical Education, and everyone associated with the Journal are dedicated to providing our readers with the best possible publication at the lowest possible cost. All that effort counts for a lot, and you are the beneficiary. What can you do to help continue this tradition of excellence at minimal cost? Become a JCE Ambassador. Ask others to join with us as subscribers. Or give them gift subscriptions (an even better bargain) and encourage them to continue to subscribe. The more subscribers we have, the less the cost to each. Also, volunteer your time as an author, reviewer, column editor, or in some other capacity. JCE is a great journal because its readers have given of themselves to make it that way. Please continue to work with us to keep it that way. Awards Aspirin Prize The first international Aspirin Prize for Solidarity through Chemistry has been awarded to K. C. Nicolaou of Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, and the University of California, San Diego. The prize honors Nicolaou for his creativity in the synthesis of natural products and for his development of innovative synthetic methods. Nicolaou and his colleagues E. J. Sorensen and N. Winssinger contributed an overview of this area of chemistry to the Journal in their Viewpoints article, "The Art and Science of Organic and Natural Products Synthesis", J. Chem. Educ. 1998, 75, 1225. The award commemorates the centenary of the first synthesis of a pure and stable form of acetylsalicylic acid, the active ingredient of aspirin. Awarded every two years, the Aspirin Prize is sponsored by Química Farmacéutica Bayer S.A. (Barcelona) and includes a monetary award of 20,000. Courses, Seminars, Meetings, Opportunities Travel Awards, ACS Women Chemists Committee Women Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society is calling for applications for travel awards for post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate women to make their first research presentation at a national meeting sponsored by Eli Lilly & Co. For more information and an application form, contact your department chair; http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/ascwcc; or Cheryl Brown, ACS, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone: 800/227-5558 ext. 6022; email c_brown@acs.org. The deadline for receipt of applications for meetings between January 1 and June 30, 2000, is October 15, 1999; for meetings between July 1 and December 31, 2000, the deadline is March 15, 2000. Call for Symposia, Papers, Workshops: 16th BCCE The 16th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education will be held July 30­August 3, 2000, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The conference Web site at http://www.umich.edu/ bcce is ready to accept proposals for symposia, papers, posters, and workshops. Or proposals may be submitted in writing to the Program Chair, Brian Coppola, phone: 734/764-7329; email: bcoppola@umich.edu. The deadline for submission of proposals for symposia and workshops is December 13, 1999; the deadline for submission of abstracts of papers and posters is February 4, 2000. For general information contact Seyhan Ege, phone: 734/764-7340; email: snege@umich.edu. 16th IUPAC Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics 16th IUPAC Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics (concurrent with 55th Calorimetry Conference and 10th Symposium on Thermodynamics of Nuclear Materials) August 6­11, 2000 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada This conference will cover research topics in all areas of thermodynamics. In addition, there will be a special poster session for papers on two aspects of thermodynamics education: lecture demonstrations and undergraduate laboratory experiments. Come and join us for lobster and learn what is new and exciting in thermodynamics. To be on the email list for this meeting, send a message to: ICCT@IS.DAL.CA. For further details, consult the conference Web site: http://IS.DAL.CA/ ICCT. Chair: Mary Anne White, Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J3, Canada; phone and fax: 902/494-3894, email: Mary.Anne.White@DAL.CA. Microscale Workshops The National Microscale Chemistry Center, located at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, will offer several workshops in fall 1999, spring 2000, and fall 2000. Workshops for elementary school teachers run from 8:30 a.m. on a Thursday to 2:00 p.m. the following day. Workshops for high school teachers run from 5:30 p.m. on a Friday until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. There are also workshops for college/2-year college/high school teachers that will be held during summer 2000, from 8:30 a.m. on a Monday to 2:00 p.m. on Friday. The workshops include all materials, free housing, and all meals; there is a registration fee. Early registration is advised. For further information, contact Mono M. Singh, Director, National Microscale Chemistry Center, 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845; phone: 978/837-5137; fax: 878/837-5017; msingh@merrimack.edu. Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching The Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching (CASTL) has both a higher education and K-12/Teacher Education component. The CASTL section of the Carnegie Web site contains a review of the three-part design of the higher education program and materials and information developed over the past year: http://www.carnegiefoundation.org (click on Program Information and then on CASTL). This site includes (i) the original press release for the project; (ii) booklets and information about the Pew Scholars National Fellowship Program and the Campus Programtwo of the three components of the CASTL; (iii) links to materials about the scholarship of teaching and learning newly available on other sites. The Pew Learning and Technology Program The Pew Learning and Technology Program is an 8.8-million, four-year effort to place the national discussion about the impact that new technologies are having on the nation's campuses in the context of student learning and ways to achieve this learning cost-effectively. The Program has three areas of work: the Pew Grant Program in Course Redesign; the Pew Symposia in Learning and Technology; the Pew Learning and Technology Program Newsletter. The Pew Learning and Technology Program is coordinated by the newly created Center for Academic Transformation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute led by its executive director, Carol A. Twigg. The Center's mission is to serve as a source of expertise and support for those in and around higher education who wish to transform their academic practices to make them more accessible, more effective, and more productive by taking advantage of the capabilities of information technology. For further information, see the Center Web site at www.center.rpi.edu or contact Abbie Basile at basila@rpi.edu or 518/276-8323. Materials Available Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children The 1999 list of Outstanding Trade Books for Children, a cooperative project between NSTA and the Children's Book Council, has been published recently. Published annually for more than 20 years, the list of outstanding trade books is intended to help educators, librarians, parents, and others interested in science education to promote science through reading. The books are geared for children in grades K-8. This 1999 list is available through the NSTA Web site at www.nsta.org/pubs/sc, or through NSTA's Fax on Demand service (888/400-NSTA); when prompted, select number 842 to receive a faxed copy of the trade book list. ACS Pamphlet on Global Climate Change and Fact Sheet on Chemical Weapons Global Climate Change, an updated pamphlet that replaces the 1990 version, presents an overview of the factors that influence climate and describes the basis of recent public concerns. The pamphlet explains in clear, concise language what scientists know and don't know about the greenhouse effect. The 12-page pamphlet is written for the nonscientist. It is ideal for science teachers, policymakers, and others interested in learning more about this global issue. Chemical Weapons is now available in the Science in Focus series. This fact sheet explores the issues and lethal chemicals involved in chemical weapons production. The 4-page fact sheet provides timely information on scientific issues in order to promote a greater understanding of the technical issues we face today. These publications, as well as other information pamphlets and fact sheets on topical issues affecting society, are available from the ACS Office of Society Services. Other topics include Acid Rain; Biotechnology; Chemical Risk: A Primer; Chemical Risk: Personal Decisions; Ground Water; Hazardous Waste Management; Pesticides; Recycling; and Science in Focus: Endocrine Distruptors. To obtain a single free copy or the price schedule for multiple copies call 1-800/227-5558 or write to the ACS Office of Society Services, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC. The pamphlets can also be found the ACS Government Affairs Web site:http://www.acs.org/govt by clicking publications/reports.

    Proposal Deadlines

    National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)

    • Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) June 5, 2000 (anticipated)
    • NSF Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarships Program (CSEMS) TBA
    • Advanced Techological Education (ATE) Preliminary April 13, 2000 (anticipated) Formal Oct. 14, 1999, and Oct. 13, 2000 (anticipated)
    • NSF Graduate Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) TBA (anticipated late spring 2000)
    • Online DUE forms available at http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/DUE/documents/general/forms/forms.htm
    • NSF Documents Online available at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/pubsys/browser/odbrowse.pl
    For further information about NSF DUE programs consult the DUE Web site, http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/DUE/start.htm. To contact the DUE Information Center, phone: 703/306-1666; email: undergrad@nsf.gov.

    The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.

    • Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program: November 15, 1999, and November 15, 2000
    • Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program: June 30, 2000
    • New Faculty Awards Program: May 15, 2000
    • Faculty Start-up Grants for Undergraduate Institutions: May 15, 2000
    • Scholar/Fellow Program for Undergraduate Institutions: June 30, 2000
    • Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences: Preliminary Proposals: June 15, 2000 Complete Proposals: September 1, 2000
    • Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry: March 1, 2000
    • Senior Scientist Mentor: September 1, 1999, and September 1, 2000
    Further information may be obtained from The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., 555 Madison Avenue, Suite 1305, New York, NY 10022; phone: 212/753-1760; email: admin@dreyfus.org; WWW:http://www.dreyfus.org/

    Research Corporation

    • Cottrell College Science Awards: May 15 and November 15
    • Cottrell Scholars: First regular business day in September
    • Partners in Science: December 1 (the final opportunity for this program is summer 1999)
    • Research Opportunity Awards: May 1 and October 1
    • Research Innovation Awards: May 1
    Further information may be obtained from Research Corporation, 101 North Wilmot Road, Suite 250, Tucson, AZ 85711-3332; phone: 520/571-1111; fax: 520/571-1119; email: awards@rescorp.org; WWW:http://www.rescorp.org

  20. Noble internal transport barriers and radial subdiffusion of toroidal magnetic lines

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Misguich, J. H.; Reuss, J.-D.; Constantinescu, D.; Steinbrecher, G.; Vlad, M.; Spineanu, F.; Weyssow, B.; Balescu, R.

    2003-11-01

    Internal transport barriers (ITB's) observed in tokamaks are described by a purely magnetic approach. Magnetic line motion in toroidal geometry with broken magnetic surfaces is studied from a previously derived Hamiltonian map in situation of incomplete chaos. This appears to reproduce in a realistic way the main features of a tokamak, for a given safety factor profile and in terms of a single parameter L representing the amplitude of the magnetic perturbation. New results are given concerning the Shafranov shift as function of L. The phase space (psi ,θ ) of the "tokamap" describes the poloidal section of the line trajectories, where psi is the toroidal flux labelling the surfaces. For small values of L, closed magnetic surfaces exist (KAM tori) and island chains begin to appear on rational surfaces for higher values of L, with chaotic zones around hyperbolic points, as expected. Island remnants persist in the chaotic domain for all relevant values of L at the main rational q-values. Single trajectories of magnetic line motion indicate the persistence of a central protected plasma core, surrounded by a chaotic shell enclosed in a double-sided transport barrier: the latter is identified as being composed of two Cantori located on two successive “most-noble” numbers values of the perturbed safety factor, and forming an internal transport barrier (ITB). Magnetic lines which succeed to escape across this barrier begin to wander in a wide chaotic sea extending up to a very robust barrier (as long as Lprecsim 1) which is identified mathematically as a robust KAM surface at the plasma edge. In this case the motion is shown to be intermittent, with long stages of pseudo-trapping in the chaotic shell, or of sticking around island remnants, as expected for a continuous time random walk. For values of Lsucceq 1, above the escape threshold, most magnetic lines succeed to escape out of the external barrier which has become a permeable Cantorus. Statistical analysis of a large number of trajectories, representing the evolution of a bunch of magnetic lines, indicate that the flux variable psi asymptotically grows in a diffusive manner as (L2t) with a L2 scaling as expected, but that the average radial position rm(t) asymptotically grows as (L2t)^{1/4} while the mean square displacement around this average radius asymptotically grows in a subdiffusive manner as (L2t)^{1/2}. This result shows the slower dispersion in the present incomplete chaotic regime, which is different from the usual quasilinear diffusion in completely chaotic situations. For physical times t_{\\varphi } of the order of the escape time defined by xm(t_{\\varphi })sim 1, the motion appears to be superdiffusive, however, but less dangerous than the generally admitted quasi-linear diffusion. The orders of magnitude of the relevant times in Tore Supra are finally discussed. Barrières internes de transport " nobles " et sous-diffusion radiale des lignes magnétiques toroïdales Les barrières internes de transport observées dans les tokamaks sont décrites ici dans une approche purement magnétique. Le mouvement des lignes magnétiques en géométrie toroïdale avec brisure des surfaces magnétiques est étudié à partir d'une application hamiltonienne "tokamap" développée précédemment en situation de chaos incomplet, et dans laquelle le "temps" est représenté par la coordonnée toroïdale. Cette application reproduit de façon réaliste les principales caractéristiques d'un tokamak, pour un profil donné du facteur de sécurité q, et en terme d'un seul paramètre L représentant l'amplitude de la perturbation magnétique. On obtient des résultats nouveaux concernant le déplacement de Shafranov en fonction de L. L'espace des phases (psi,θ) du "tokamap" décrit la section poloïdale des trajectoires des lignes, où psisim r^2 est le flux toroïdal caractérisant les surfaces magnétiques (proportionnel au carré du rayon r de cette surface). Pour de faibles valeurs de L, des surfaces magnétiques fermées existent (tores de KAM) et des chaînes d'îlots commencent à apparaître sur les surfaces rationnelles pour des valeurs de L supérieures, avec, comme attendu, des zones chaotiques autour des points hyperboliques. Des résidus d'îlots magnétiques persistent dans le domaine chaotique pour toutes les valeurs de L, sur les surfaces caractérisées par les principales valeurs rationnelles de q. Des trajectoires individuelles de ligne magnétique indiquent la persistance d'un cœur protégé au sein du plasma, entouré d'une couche chaotique, incluse dans une double barrière de transport : celle-ci est composée de deux Cantori situés sur deux valeurs successives du facteur de sécurité perturbé que l'on a pu identifier comme étant les nombres "les plus nobles", formant ainsi une barrière de transport interne. Les lignes magnétiques qui réussissent à s'échapper à travers cette barrière commencent à voyager dans une vaste mer chaotique qui s'étend jusqu'à une barrière très robuste (tant que Lprecsim 1) qui a été identifiée mathématiquement comme étant une surface KAM robuste au bord du plasma. Dans ce cas le mouvement observé est intermittent, avec de longues périodes de pseudo-piégeage dans la couche chaotique, ou du collage (sticking) autour des îlots résiduels, comme attendu pour une marche aléatoire en temps continu. Pour des valeurs de Lsucceq 1, au-dessus du seuil d'échappement, la plupart des lignes magnétiques parviennent à s'échapper à travers la barrière externe qui est devenue un Cantorus perméable. L'analyse statistique d'un grand nombre de trajectoires, représentant l'évolution d'un faisceau de lignes magnétiques, indique qu'en moyenne la variable de flux psi croît asymptotiquement de manière diffusive (comme L^2t) avec une loi d'échelle en L^2 comme attendu, mais avec une position radiale moyenne r_m(t) croissant asymptotiquement comme (L^2t)^{1/4}, tandis que le déplacement quadratique moyen autour de ce rayon moyen croît asymptotiquement de manière sous-diffusive comme (L^2t)^{1/2}. Ce résultat indique une dispersion plus lente dans le cas étudié d'un régime de chaos incomplet, qui est différente de la diffusion quasi-linéaire en situation de chaos complet. Pour des temps physiques t_{\\varphi} de l'ordre du temps d'échappement, défini par r_m(t_{\\varphi}) sim 1, le mouvement apparaît comme super-diffusif, mais cependant moins " dangereux " que la diffusion quasi-linéaire généralement admise. On discute finalement les ordres de grandeur des temps caractéristiques dans le tokamak TORE SUPRA.

  1. Guiding the Giant

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    1998-08-01

    New ESO Survey Provides Targets for the VLT Giant astronomical telescopes like the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) must be used efficiently. Observing time is expensive and there are long waiting lines of excellent research programmes. Thus the work at the telescope must be very well prepared and optimized as much as possible - mistakes should be avoided and no time lost! Astronomers working with the new 8-m class optical/infrared telescopes must base their observations on detailed lists of suitable target objects if they want to perform cutting-edge science. This is particularly true for research programmes that depend on observations of large samples of comparatively rare, distant objects. This type of work requires that extensive catalogues of such objects must be prepared in advance. One such major catalogue - that will serve as a very useful basis for future VLT observations - has just become available from the new ESO Imaging Survey (EIS). The Need for Sky Surveys Astronomers have since long recognized the need to carry out preparatory observations with other telescopes in order to "guide" large telescopes. To this end, surveys of smaller or larger parts of the sky have been performed by wide-field telescopes, paving the way for subsequent work at the limits of the largest available ground-based telescopes. For instance, a complete photographic survey of the sourthern sky (declination < -17.5°) was carried out in the 1970's with the ESO 1-metre Schmidt Telescope in support of the work at the 3.6-m telescope at the ESO La Silla observatory. However, while until recently most observational programmes could rely on samples of objects found on photographic plates, this is no longer possible. New image surveys must match the fainter limiting magnitudes reached by the new and larger telescopes. Modern digital, multi-colour, deep imaging surveys have thus become an indispensable complement to the 8-m telescopes. The new generation of imaging surveys will, without doubt, be the backbone of future research and are likely to be as long-lived as their earlier counterparts, which have served the astronomical community so well over the past decades. The new surveys are now becoming possible, thanks to the new, extremely light-sensitive CCD-mosaics mounted on wide-field telescopes. The ESO Imaging Survey (EIS) A very successful, major step in this direction has recently been taken at ESO. It concerns an imaging survey with the 3.5-m New Technology Telescope (NTT) at La Silla, aimed at defining targets for the first year of operation of the VLT. In addition to serving the future observers, this survey is also public , i.e., the resulting data are made available to all interested parties. The project is known as the ESO Imaging Survey (EIS). It is supervised by a Working Group with members from the European astronomical community ( [1]) that has been responsible for defining the survey strategy and for monitoring the progress. It has been a major challenge to carry out such a public survey in the very short time available. The work by the EIS Team has involved the survey observations at the NTT, development of a pipeline to process the raw data, advanced data reduction, identification of large samples of astronomically "interesting" targets and, not least, the distribution of images and other survey products before the start of operation of the VLT. To cope with the ambitious one-year timetable, a novel type of collaboration between ESO and the astronomical communities in the ESO Member States was set up. It has allowed to combine efficiently the scientific and technical expertise of the community with ESO in-house know-how and infrastructure. This model has been very successful and may well set the example for future surveys. Science Goals of EIS EIS is in many aspects a novel approach for large-scale, ground-based optical observations, in support of large-telescope science. The speed with which raw EIS data have been converted to deliverable products is quite unprecedented, given the nature and scope of this project. This is a key ingredient for imaging surveys, the main goal of which is to provide target lists for 8-m class telescopes. EIS consists of two parts: a wide-angle survey ( "EIS-wide" ) and a deep, multi-colour survey in four optical and two infrared bands ( "EIS-deep" ). EIS-wide covers four pre-selected patches of sky (spanning the R.A. range from 22 h to 9 h ). The main science goals of EIS-wide include the search for distant clusters of galaxies and quasars. In addition, there are important spin-offs in terms of bright and distant galaxies, as well as new information about galactic structure and stellar populations. The observations were conducted in 10 runs in the period July 1997 - March 1998. A total of 36 nights were used for this part of the project. The images obtained cover a total area of 17 square degrees in the near-infrared I-band, reaching limiting magnitude of I ~ 23 and, furthermore, an area of 1.7 square degrees in the B- (blue), V- (green-yellow) and I-bands to a comparable depth. Altogether, the EIS data set consists of about 6000 science and calibration frames, totaling 96 Gbytes of raw data and over 200 Gbytes of reduced images and derived products. Some results from EIS ESO PR Photo 29/98 ESO PR Photo 29/98 [Preview - JPEG: 800 x 417 pix - 160k] [High-Res - JPEG: 3000 x 1562 pix - 1.2Mb] This photo shows three views of a small field in the so-called EIS Patch-B . They were obtained during this survey in different colours: B - blue; V - green-yellow; I - near-infrared. At the centre is located a (candidate) cluster of galaxies at very large distance. This conclusion is based upon the different appearance of this cluster in the three frames: it is not seen in B; it is hardly visible in V and it is most obvious in I. This indicates that the galaxies in the cluster have very red colours. The effect is most likely due to high redshift (and therefore large distance) that has shifted the bulk of their emission from the visual to the near-infrared region of the spectrum. The other objects in the field - which are nearer - can be seen in all three frames. On these images, over one million galaxies were detected and about 250 distant clusters of galaxies were identified, with estimated redshifts in the range 0.2 < z < 1.3 [2]. This is by far the largest sample of distant clusters of galaxies currently available. In addition, white dwarfs, very-low mass stars/brown dwarfs and high-redshift quasar candidates were identified in the field that lies in the direction of the South Galactic Pole. All the calibrated images and derived catalogs are now publicly available. They can be examined and/or retrieved through an interface in the EIS release WWW-page built in collaboration with the ESO Science Archive, a prototype for future distribution of data to the ESO community. A photo of a 25 arcmin wide field from EIS is available on the web as ESO PR Photo 18/98 ; the two versions may be accessed via ESO PR 07/98. Future surveys at ESO The EIS project has been conceived as a pilot project for more ambitious, future wide-field imaging surveys to be conducted by ESO. Together, they will provide the basic framework and infrastructure for the gradual development of the required capabilities for pipeline processing, archiving and data mining. By January 1999, the ESO/MPIA 2.2-m telescope at La Silla will start regular observations with a wide-field camera capable of imaging in one shot an area of the sky that is larger than the full moon. This telescope will be fully dedicated to wide-field imaging and will be approximately 6 times more efficient than is the NTT for imaging surveys such as EIS. An even more powerful survey telescope is now planned for the Paranal Observatory , next to the VLT. A Memorandum of Understanding has recently been signed by the Director General of ESO, Professor Riccardo Giaconni and the Director of the Capodimonte Observatory (Naples, Italy), Professor Massimo Capaccioli . According to this, the Capodimonte Observatory will deliver to ESO a wide-field 2.6-m telescope, referred to as the VLT Survey Telescope (VST). The VST will be over 12 times more efficient than the 2.2-m telescope for survey work. When it goes into operation some years from now, ESO will consolidate its front-line position in wide-field imaging capabilities. Another survey, the DEep Near Infrared Southern Sky Survey (DENIS) , is now being carried out at La Silla. It is a joint European project that is conducted at the 1-m ESO telescope by a consortium of 20 astronomical institutes. More information Further information about EIS is available at http://www.eso.org/eis. From this site, it is possible to visit the EIS release page and to browse through pictures of the distant Universe and of individual objects, some of which will be observed with the VLT in the future. Notes [1] The home institutes of the astronomers involved in EIS include the European Southern Observatory, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste (Italy), Leiden Observatory (The Netherlands), Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (France), Max-Planck Institut für Astrophysik (Germany), Astronomisk Observatorium (Copenhagen, Denmark), Istituto di Radioastronomia del CNR (Bologna, Italy), Landensternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl (Heidelberg, Germany), DAEC, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon (France), ESA/ESO Space Telescope-European Coordinating Facility (Garching, Germany), Osservatorio Astronomico di Pino Torinese, Torino (Italy) and Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte (Napoli, Italy). [2] In astronomy, the redshift (z) denotes the fraction by which the lines in the spectrum of an object are shifted towards longer wavelengths. The observed redshift of a distant galaxy or quasar gives a direct estimate of the universal expansion (i.e. the `recession velocity'). Since this expansion rate increases with the distance, the velocity (and thus the redshift) is itself a function (the Hubble relation) of the distance to the object. The indicated redshift interval (0.2 < z < 1.3) corresponds to a distance interval of approx. 3,000 to 7,000 million light-years. This Press Release is accompanied by ESO PR Photo 29/98 , available in two versions. It may be reproduced, if credit is given to the European Southern Observatory. © ESO Education & Public Relations Department Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, D-85748 Garching, Germany ESO Press Information is made available on the World-Wide Web (URL: http://www.eso.org ).

  2. EDITORIAL: Focus on Molecular Electronics FOCUS ON MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scheer, Elke; Reineker, Peter

    2008-06-01

    The notion 'molecular electronics' has been used more frequently since the 1970s and summarizes a series of physical phenomena and ideas for their application in connection with organic molecules, oligomers, polymers, organic aggregates and solids. The properties studied in this field were connected to optical and electrical phenomena, such as optical absorption, fluorescence, nonlinear optics, energy transport, charge transfer, electrical conductance, and electron and nuclear spin-resonance. The final goal was and is to build devices which can compete or surpass some aspects of inorganic semiconductor devices. For example, on the basis of organic molecules there exist rectifiers, transistors, molecular wires, organic light emitting diodes, elements for photovoltaics, and displays. With respect to applications, one aspect of the organic materials is their broad variability and the lower effort and costs for their processability. The step from microstructures to the investigation of nanostructures is a big challenge also in this field and has lead to what nowadays is called molecular electronics in its narrow sense. In this field the subjects of the studies are often single molecules, e.g. single molecule optical spectroscopy, electrical conductance, i.e. charge transport through a single molecule, the influence of vibrational degrees of freedom, etc. A challenge here is to provide the techniques for addressing in a reproducible way the molecular scale. In another approach small molecular ensembles are studied in order to avoid artefacts from particular contact situations. The recent development of the field is presented in [1-8]. In this Focus Issue we present new results in the field of 'molecular electronics', both in its broad and specialized sense. One of the basic questions is the distribution of the energy levels responsible for optical absorption on the one hand and for the transport of charge on the other. A still unanswered question is whether the Wannier exciton model applies in which the excitation is distributed over several molecules or whether a good description is given by the Frenkel exciton model with the electron and the whole being localized at the same molecular unit. In organic semiconductors the charge transport usually occurs on the basis of holes because of the presence of many defects giving rise to a localization of the electrons. It is therefore a challenge to produce materials with both positive and negative mobile charge carriers. In the 1990s V M Agranovich introduced the idea of hybrid excitons, i.e. of nanostructured materials consisting of both organic and inorganic semiconductors. At the interface between the organic and inorganic parts new excitons can appear, being a superposition of both Frenkel and Wannier excitons and having both the high oscillator strength of the Frenkel and the large optical nonlinearity of the Wannier exciton. The problem is to find optimum combinations of the organic and inorganic parts to enable the hybrid structure concept to work. Micro-cavities also play an important role in the investigation of organic materials resulting in a new state (polariton) as the superposition of a photon and an exciton because of the large exciton-photon interaction. A similar excitation arises because of the interaction between plasmons and photons. A special geometrical shape of a nano-cavity increases the interaction between the electromagnetic radiation and a dipole sitting in the cavity. The interaction between vibronic degrees of freedom and electronic excitations plays an important role for various phenomena such as nonlinear processes, the question of coherence, information on the shape of a potential hypersurface, etc. With the help of femtosecond laser pulses, detailed information on such vibrations can be obtained. Also of great importance is the investigation of the energy transfer in artificial light-harvesting systems, e.g. in dendrimers. Finally the combination of experimental and theoretical investigations allows for a comparison of the spectra of two molecules with the same backbone (tetracene and rubrene). The transport of charge through a molecule occurs possibly in a stationary, but at any rate in a non-equilibrium situation. The study of dissipation in such situations requires special approaches, both in theory and in experiments. One key issue is the understanding of the role of the microscopic phenomena such as the excitation of vibrational modes and their macroscopic outcome, i.e. the dissipation. This topic is addressed in several contributions both theoretically and experimentally. From the theoretical side, for the investigation of the heat production during the electron transfer, non-equilibrium Green's functions have been utilized. In another contribution a combination of the non-equilibrium Green's function technique together with the density functional method has been developed for the calculation of the elastic and inelastic electronic transport. To calculate the transport of indistinguishable particles a path integral Monte Carlo approach has been put forward. In single-molecule transistors the gate-voltage dependence on the Kondo temperature and an accompanying strong Coulomb blockade can be explained by taking into account a strong electron-vibron interaction including anharmonicities of the molecular potential surface. The transport of charges is heavily influenced by disorder. The case of static disorder is investigated for linear chains, carbon nanotubes and graphene ribbons. Finally it is shown that the charge transport through a single energy level coupled to a localized vibrational mode and two leads shows hysteretic effects which could possibly be used in a memory device. For applications the control of the current through a molecular junction is considered theoretically. Two possible mechanisms are discussed: the control via coherent destruction using predefined ultrafast laser pulses and the formation of laser pulses using optimal control theory. A group of contributions is dedicated to the study of electronic transport through molecules using various techniques ranging from scanning-tunnelling methods via controllable break-junctions to printing techniques and molecular networks. The molecules under study can be classified into two main groups. On the one hand the functionalization of aromatic or alkane molecules with thiols is used for establishing chemical binding to metal electrodes; in the other set of experiments fullerenes are used as model systems for studying the influence of orientation and heat dissipation. Molecular conducting networks are important under various aspects. Such networks are formed by an array of gold nanoparticles connected by conjugated molecular chains with one or two thiol ends and conduction investigations are performed under various conditions. A careful investigation of the experimental conditions is necessary when comparing conductance measurements using the break junction method. For example there are results demonstrating that several molecular junctions are formed in parallel between the electrodes. Other experiments use different materials for the junctions and measurements are performed at various temperatures. The transport of charge through an alkane-monolayer is investigated using micro-transfer printing to establish contacts without shorts. It is shown that both tunnelling between the electrodes and transport through the states of the molecules contribute to the conductance. C60 plays a role in various fields of molecular electronics. One aspect is the conductance through the molecule as a function of the orientation of the molecule on the surface. It is found that there is a strong orientation dependence of the transport on Au(111) surfaces and that it is almost independent on a Cu(100) surface. A further important phenomenon is the heating and cooling of C60 during charge transport depending on the surface of C60 adsorption. The differences are ascribed to the amount of charge transfer into C60 upon adsorption on different surfaces. In summary, in the field of molecular electronics new materials and structures are developed and investigated, both with respect to a basic understanding of the materials and their compositions and with respect to possible applications in electronics. While in the field of molecular electronics on the microscale the techniques are well established, they still need to be refined in the field of nano-molecular electronics. Nevertheless, both subfields share some of the most challenging questions: e.g. the problems of charge and energy transport, of excitations and the formation of new quasi-particles. Another question is the role of vibrational degrees of freedom, where on the one hand one has to cope with the unavoidable effect of heat dissipation. On the other hand, vibrational excitations are intimately connected to the individual molecule under study and thus offer the possibility to be used in functional devices based on intrinsic molecular properties. This Focus Issue represents a snapshot of the state of the art of this emerging field in the first half of 2008. We expect that the fast development which the research has undergone in recent years will even speed up in the near future. References [1] Pope M and Sweenberg Ch E 1999 Electronic Processes in Organic Crystals and Polymers 2nd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press) [2] Silinsh E A and Capek V 1994 Organic Molecular Crystals (New York: AIP Press) [3] Agranovich V M and La Rocca G C 2002 Organic Nanostructures: Science and Applications, Proc. Int. School of Physics 'Enrico Fermi', Course CXLIX (Amsterdam: IOS Press) [4] Schwoerer M and Wolf H C 2007 Organic Molecular Solids (Weinheim: Wiley-VCH) [5] Cuniberti G, Fagas G and Richter K (ed) 2005 Introducing Molecular Electronics, Lecture Notes in Physics (Berlin: Springer) [6] Reed M and Lee T 2003 Molecular Nanoelectronics (Stevenson Ranch, CA: American Scientific Publishers) [7] Petty M C 2007 Molecular Electronics, (Weinheim: Wiley-VCH) [8] 2006 Molecular Wires and Nanoscale Conductors Faraday Discuss. 131 1-420 Focus on Molecular Electronics Contents Model of mixed Frenkel and charge-transfer excitons in donor-acceptor molecular crystals: investigation of vibronic spectra I J Lalov, C Warns and P Reineker Suppressing the current through molecular wires: comparison of two mechanisms GuangQi Li, Michael Schreiber and Ulrich Kleinekathöfer Charge-memory effect in a polaron model: equation-of-motion method for Green functions Pino D'Amico, Dmitry A Ryndyk, Gianaurelio Cuniberti and Klaus Richter Determination of transport levels of organic semiconductors by UPS and IPS S Krause, M B Casu, A Schöll and E Umbach Electrical characterization of alkane monolayers using micro-transfer printing: tunneling and molecular transport C Kreuter, S Bächle, E Scheer and A Erbe Correlated charge transfer along molecular chains L Mühlbacher and J Ankerhold Non-equilibrium Green's functions in density functional tight binding: method and applications A Pecchia, G Penazzi, L Salvucci and A Di Carlo Asymmetric Coulomb blockade and Kondo temperature of single-molecule transistors Florian Elste and Felix von Oppen Electron-phonon scattering in molecular electronics: from inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy to heating effects Alessio Gagliardi, Giuseppe Romano, Alessandro Pecchia, Aldo Di Carlo, Thomas Frauenheim and Thomas A Niehaus Interlinking Au nanoparticles in 2D arrays via conjugated dithiolated molecules Jianhui Liao, Markus A Mangold, Sergio Grunder, Marcel Mayor, Christian Schönenberger and Michel Calame Conductance values of alkanedithiol molecular junctions M Teresa González, Jan Brunner, Roman Huber, Songmei Wu, Christian Schönenberger and Michel Calame Particularities of surface plasmon-exciton strong coupling with large Rabi splitting C Symonds, C Bonnand, J C Plenet, A Bréhier, R Parashkov, J S Lauret, E Deleporte and J Bellessa Excitonic and vibrational nonlinear processes in a polydiacetylene studied by a few-cycle pulse laser T Kobayashi, I Iwakura and A Yabushita Correlations of instantaneous transition energy and intensity of absorption peaks during molecular vibration: toward potential hyper-surface Takayoshi Kobayashi and Zhuan Wang Diffusion and localization in carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoribbons Norbert Nemec, Klaus Richter and Gianaurelio Cuniberti Molecular electronics in junctions with energy disorder Franz J Kaiser, Peter Hänggi and Sigmund Kohler Spatially resolved conductance of oriented C60 G Schull, N Néel, M Becker, J Kröger and R Berndt A design for an optical-nanocavity optimized for use with surface-bound light-emitting materials A M Adawi and D G Lidzey Electronic coupling of optical excitations in organic/inorganic semiconductor hybrid structures S Blumstengel, S Sadofev and F Henneberger The relation between the symmetry of vibrational modes and the potential curve displacement associated with electronic transition studied by using real-time vibrational spectroscopy Takayoshi Kobayashi, Zhuan Wang and Izumi Iwakura Lithographic mechanical break junctions for single-molecule measurements in vacuum: possibilities and limitations Christian A Martin, Dapeng Ding, Herre S J van der Zant and Jan M van Ruitenbeek Strong exciton-photon coupling at room temperature in microcavities containing two-dimensional layered perovskite compounds G Lanty, A Bréhier, R Parashkov, J S Lauret and E Deleporte Bipolar transport in organic field-effect transistors: organic semiconductor blends versus contact modification Andreas Opitz, Michael Kraus, Markus Bronner, Julia Wagner and Wolfgang Brütting Resonant heating and substrate-mediated cooling of a single C60 molecule in a tunnel junction Gunnar Schulze, Katharina J Franke and Jose Ignacio Pascual

  3. The Virgo Cluster of Galaxies in the Making

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    2004-10-01

    VLT Observations of Planetary Nebulae Confirm the Dynamical Youth of Virgo [1] Summary An international team of astronomers [2] has succeeded in measuring with high precision the velocities of a large number of planetary nebulae [3] in the intergalactic space within the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. For this they used the highly efficient FLAMES spectrograph [4] on the ESO Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory (Chile). These planetary nebulae stars free floating in the otherwise seemingly empty space between the galaxies of large clusters can be used as "probes" of the gravitational forces acting within these clusters. They trace the masses, visible as well as invisible, within these regions. This, in turn, allows astronomers to study the formation history of these large bound structures in the universe. The accurate velocity measurements of 40 of these stars confirm the view that Virgo is a highly non-uniform galaxy cluster, consisting of several subunits that have not yet had time to come to equilibrium. These new data clearly show that the Virgo Cluster of galaxies is still in its making. They also prove for the first time that one of the bright galaxies in the region scrutinized, Messier 87, has a very extended halo of stars, reaching out to at least 65 kpc. This is more than twice the size of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. PR Photo 29a/04: Velocity Measurements of Forty Intracluster Planetary Nebulae (FLAMES/VLT) PR Photo 29b/04: Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the SUC field in the Virgo Cluster (Digital Sky Survey) A young cluster At a distance of approximately 50 million light-years, the Virgo Cluster is the nearest galaxy cluster. It is located in the zodiacal constellation Virgo (The Virgin) and contains many hundreds of galaxies, ranging from giant and massive elliptical galaxies and spirals like our own Milky Way, to dwarf galaxies, hundreds of times smaller than their big brethren. French astronomer Charles Messier entered 16 members of the Virgo cluster in his famous catalogue of nebulae. An image of the core of the cluster obtained with the Wide Field Imager camera at the ESO La Silla Observatory was published last year as PR Photo 04a/03. Clusters of galaxies are believed to have formed over a long period of time by the assembly of smaller entities, through the strong gravitational pull from dark and luminous matter. The Virgo cluster is considered to be a relatively young cluster because previous studies have revealed small "sub-clusters of galaxies" around the major galaxies Messier 87, Messier 86 and Messier 49. These sub-clusters have yet to merge to form a denser and smoother galaxy cluster. Recent observations have shown that the so-called "intracluster" space, the region between galaxies in a cluster, is permeated by a sparse "intracluster population of stars", which can be used to study in detail the structure of the cluster. Cosmic wanderers The first discoveries of intracluster stars in the Virgo cluster were made serendipitously by Italian astronomer, Magda Arnaboldi (Torino Observatory, Italy) and her colleagues, in 1996. In order to study the extended halos of galaxies in the Virgo cluster, with the ESO New Technology Telescope at La Silla, they searched for objects known as "planetary nebulae" [3]. Planetary nebulae (PNe) can be detected out to large distances from their strong emission lines. These narrow emission lines also allow for a precise measure of their radial velocities. Planetary Nebulae can thus serve to investigate the motions of stars in the halo regions of distant galaxies. In their study, the astronomers found several planetary nebulae apparently not related to any galaxies but moving in the gravity field of the whole cluster. These "wanderers" belonged to a newly discovered intracluster population of stars. Since these first observations, several hundreds of these wanderers have been discovered. They must represent the tip of the iceberg of a huge population of stars swarming among the galaxies in these enormous clusters. Indeed, as planetary nebulae are the final stage of common low mass stars - like our Sun - they are representative of the stellar population in general. And as planetary nebulae are rather short-lived (a few tens of thousand years - a blitz on astronomical timescales), astronomers can estimate that one star in about 8,000 million of solar-type stars is visible as a planetary nebula at any given moment. There must thus be a comparable number of stars in between galaxies as in the galaxies themselves. But because they are diluted in such a huge volume, they are barely detectable. Because these stars are predominantly old, the most likely explanation for their presence in the intracluster space is that they formed within individual galaxies, which were subsequently stripped of many of their stars during close encounters with other galaxies during the initial stages of cluster formation. These "lost" stars were then dispersed into intracluster space where we now find them. Thus planetary nebulae can provide a unique handle on the number, type of stars and motions in regions that may harbour a substantial amount of mass. Their motions contain the fossil record of the history of galaxy interaction and the formation of the galaxy cluster. Measuring the speed of dying stars ESO PR Photo 29a/04 ESO PR Photo 29a/04 Velocity Measurements of Forty Intracluster Planetary Nebulae [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 502 pix - 50k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 1004 pix - 330k] [Full Res - JPEG: 2321 x 2912 pix - 1.2M] Caption: ESO PR Photo 29a/04 shows the intracluster planetary nebulae radial velocity distributions in three different regions of the sky (identified with the following labels: FCJ, CORE and SUC) in the Virgo cluster core region. The central panel shows the image of the VIRGO cluster core obtained from the Digital Sky Survey. The four brighter galaxies in the field are on the left Messier 87 near the FCJ field, and Messier 86, Messier 84 and NGC 4388 in the SUC field. In the FCJ panel, the blue dashed line shows a Gaussian curve with a mean velocity, vrad= 1276 km/s, and a dispersion, σrad= 247 km/s. In CORE, the green dashed line shows a Gaussian curve with vrad= 1436 km/s and σrad= 538 km/s for Virgo Cluster dwarf ellipticals and lenticular galaxies within 2 degrees of Messier 87. In the SUC panel, the dashed red line shows a Gaussian curve with vrad= 1079 km/s and σrad= 286 km/s, associated to the Messier 84 (M84) peak. The overplotted dash-dotted lines show the SUC-FLAMES spectra of intracluster HII regions, which have radial velocities in the M84 and NGC 4388 velocity ranges. The international team of astronomers [2] went on further to make a detailed study of the motions of the planetary nebulae in the Virgo cluster in order to determine its dynamical structure and compare it with numerical simulations. To this aim, they carried out a challenging research programme, aimed at confirming intracluster planetary nebula candidates they found earlier and measuring their radial velocities in three different regions ("survey fields") in the Virgo cluster core. This is far from an easy task. The emission in the main Oxygen emission line from a planetary nebula in Virgo is comparable to that of a 60-Watt light bulb at a distance of about 6.6 million kilometres, about 17 times the average distance to the Moon. Furthermore intracluster planetary nebula samples are sparse, with only a few tens of planetary nebulae in a quarter of a degree square sky field - about the size of the Moon. Spectroscopic observations thus require 8 metre class telescopes and spectrographs with a large field of view. The astronomers had therefore to rely on the FLAMES-GIRAFFE spectrograph on the VLT [4], with its relatively high spectral resolution, its field of view of 25 arcmin and the possibility to take up to 130 spectra at a time. The astronomers studied a total of 107 stars, among which 71 were believed to be genuine intracluster planetary candidates. They observed between 21 and 49 objects simultaneously for about 2 hours per field. The three parts of the Virgo core surveyed contain several bright galaxies (Messier 84, 86, 87, and NGC 4388) and a large number of smaller galaxies. They were chosen to represent different entities of the cluster. The spectroscopic measurements could confirm the intracluster nature of 40 of the planetary nebulae studied. They also provided a wealth of knowledge on the structure of this part of the Virgo cluster. In The Making ESO PR Photo 29b/04 ESO PR Photo 29b/04 Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the SUC field in the Virgo Cluster. (Digital Sky Survey) [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 471 pix - 55k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 942 pix - 512k] [Full Res - JPEG: 2189 x 2580 pix - 2.3M] Caption: ESO PR Photo 29b/04: Zoomed in view of the pointing relative to the SUC field. The image shows a 30 x 30 arcminute field centred on the Messier 86/ Messier 84 region of the Virgo cluster. The brighter galaxies in the field are (clockwise from the left) M86, M84 and NGC 4388. Their systemic velocities are -244, 1060 and 2524 km/s, respectively. Here the envelopes of bright galaxies are subtracted as much as possible for the detection of planetary nebulae embedded there. The larges circle indicates the FLAMES field-of-view. Intracluster planetary nebula candidates are marked by circles and show a highly non-uniform distribution in this field. The numbers near each circle indicate the measured line-of-sight velocity for that intracluster planetary nebula. The colour code used is blue for velocities smaller than the M84 systemic velocity (1060 km/s), red for larger velocities. In the first field near Messier 87 (M87), the astronomers measured a mean velocity close to 1250 km/s and a rather small dispersion around this value. Most stars in this field are thus physically bound to the bright galaxy M87, in the same way as the Earth is bound to the Sun. Magda Arnaboldi explains: "This study has led to the remarkable discovery that Messier 87 has a stellar halo in approximate dynamical equilibrium out to at least 65 kpc, or more than 200,000 light-years. This is more than twice the size of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and was not known before." The velocity dispersion observed in the second field, which is far away from bright galaxies, is larger than in the first one by a factor four. This very large dispersion, indicating stars moving in very disparate directions at different speeds, also tells us that this field most probably contains many intracluster stars whose motions are barely influenced by large galaxies. The new data suggest as a tantalizing possibility that this intracluster population of stars could be the leftover from the disruption of small galaxies as they orbit M87. The velocity distribution in the third field, as deduced from FLAMES spectra, is again different. The velocities show substructures related to the large galaxies Messier 86, Messier 84 and NGC 4388. Most likely, the large majority of all these planetary nebulae belong to a very extended halo around Messier 84. Ortwin Gerhard (University of Basel, Switzerland), member of the team, is thrilled: "Taken together these velocity measurements confirm the view that the Virgo Cluster is a highly non-uniform and unrelaxed galaxy cluster, consisting of several subunits. With the FLAMES spectrograph, we have thus been able to watch the motions in the Virgo Cluster, at a moment when its subunits are still coming together. And it is certainly a view worth seeing!" More information The results presented in this ESO Press Release are based on a research paper ("The Line-of-Sight Velocity Distributions of Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster Core" by M. Arnaboldi et al.) that has just appeared in the research journal Astrophysical Journal Letters Vol. 614, p. 33. Notes [1]: The University of Basel Press Release on this topic is available at http://www.zuv.unibas.ch/uni_media/2004/20041022virgo.html. [2]: The members of the team are Magda Arnaboldi (INAF, Osservatorio di Pino Torinese, Italy), Ortwin Gerhard (Astronomisches Institut, Universität Basel, Switzerland), Alfonso Aguerri (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Spain), Kenneth C. Freeman (Mount Stromlo Observatory, ACT, Australia), Nicola Napolitano (Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, The Netherlands), Sadanori Okamura (Dept. of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, Japan), and Naoki Yasuda (Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, Japan). [3]: Planetary nebulae are Sun-like stars in their final dying phase during which they eject their outer layers into surrounding space. At the same time, they unveil their small and hot stellar core which appears as a "white dwarf star". The ejected envelope is illuminated and heated by the stellar core and emits strongly in characteristic emission lines of several elements, notably oxygen (at wavelengths 495.9 and 500.7 nm). Their name stems from the fact that some of these nearby objects, such as the "Dumbbell Nebula" (see ESO PR Photo 38a/98) resemble the discs of the giant planets in the solar system when viewed with small telescopes. [4]: FLAMES, the Fibre Large Array Multi-Element Spectrograph, is installed at the 8.2-m VLT KUEYEN Unit Telescope. It is able to observe the spectra of a large number of individual, faint objects (or small sky areas) simultaneously and covers a sky field of no less than 25 arcmin in diameter, i.e., almost as large as the full Moon. It is the result of a collaboration between ESO, the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, the Observatoire de Genève-Lausanne, and the Anglo Australian Observatory (AAO).

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