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Additional file 1. Figure S1. The process flow chart of pine residue production. Figure S2. The timeline of Growth Case 1 and 2 in one rotation. Figure S3. The timeline of Growth Case 3 in one rotation. Figure S4. Time-based discounted GWP of CO2 for 100 years from the presence. Figure S5. Annual CO2 emissions and sequestration (mean value) of 1 MJ of biofuel produced in Scenario 1 Growth Case 1. Figure S6. Annual CO2 emissions and sequestration (mean value) of 1 MJ of biofuel produced in Scenario 1 Growth Case 2. Figure S7. Annual CO2 emissions and sequestration (mean value) of 1 MJ of biofuel produced in Scenario 1 Growth Case 3. Figure S8. Annual CO2 emissions and sequestration (mean value) of 1 MJ of biofuel produced in Scenario 2 Growth Case 1. Figure S9. Annual CO2 emissions and sequestration (mean value) of 1 MJ of biofuel produced in Scenario 2 Growth Case 2. Figure S10. Annual CO2 emissions and sequestration (mean value) of 1 MJ of biofuel produced in Scenario 2 Growth Case 3. Table S1. Accumulative aboveground biomass data for one rotation (metric ton/ha). Table S2. Key parameter values and distributions based on literature data.

This study examines the evolution of American security policy in the Persian Gulf from 1969 to the Gulf War of 1991. Its research question is: why, and with what consequences, did American security policy evolve from an arm’s-length approach that leveraged other powers to a hands-on approach whereby the United States became the unilateral guarantor of regional security? This study argues that the Carter administration departed from the practice of the Nixon and Ford administrations and viewed the region more narrowly than their predecessors, through a Cold War lens. This perspective continued through the Reagan and Bush administrations and resulted in American security policy being shaped by three interrelated beliefs that narrowed the range of plausible U.S. policy options to one: direct American involvement in any Persian Gulf security crisis. They shaped the Reagan and Bush administrations’ Persian Gulf security policies, and when self-generated pressure to demonstrate American credibility to friendly Gulf states was added, robust American military involvement in Persian Gulf security matters became a realistic and desirable prospect. The evolution of American security policy from arm’s length to hands on culminated in the 1991 Gulf War, which initiated sustained and direct U.S. military involvement in the region that continues through the present day. Commander, United States Navy Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited

The synthesis and characterization of U(iv) and Np(iv) selenium bis(phenolate) complexes are reported. The reaction of two equivalents of the U(iv) complex with p-benzoquinone results in the formation of a U(v)-U(v) species with a bridging reduced quinone. This represents a rare example of high-valent uranium chemistry as well as a rare example of a neptunium aryloxide complex.

Psychostimulant medications, such as Methylphenidate (MPH) have become main stay treatments for Attention Deficit\ud Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms, such as hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention in children. Such symptoms frequently also co-exist in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), thereby complicating a differential diagnosis. The presence of ADHD-like symptoms in children with ASD can have a significant detrimental impact on learning and social interaction, and can limit the outcome of behavioural interventions to address areas of core ASD difficulties. Therefore, it is of clinical relevance and potential benefit to address the issue of effectiveness and tolerability/safety of stimulants such as methylphenidate in children with co-morbid diagnoses of ASD + ADHD.\ud This study performed a meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials homogeneously measuring the effect of immediate release Methylphenidate (MPH) to reduce scores of hyperactivity in children with comorbid ADHD + ASD. The findings that IR-MPH produces an overall moderate significant benefit to reduce hyperactivity in ASD are discussed in relation to the risk/benefit question of medication use in this population.

Recent work in distance metric learning has focused on learning transformations of data that best align with provided sets of pairwise similarity and dissimilarity constraints. The learned transformations lead to improved retrieval, classification, and clustering algorithms due to the better adapted distance or similarity measures. Here, we introduce the problem of learning these transformations when the underlying constraint generation process is nonstationary. This nonstationarity can be due to changes in either the ground-truth clustering used to generate constraints or changes to the feature subspaces in which the class structure is apparent. We propose and evaluate COMID-SADL, an adaptive, online approach for learning and tracking optimal metrics as they change over time that is highly robust to a variety of nonstationary behaviors in the changing metric. We demonstrate COMID-SADL on both real and synthetic data sets and show significant performance improvements relative to previously proposed batch and online distance metric learning algorithms.

In the historic center of Port-au-Prince, more than two hundred historic gingerbread houses experienced ground shaking during the 2010 Magnitude 7.0 Haiti earthquake. Melding French architectural cues to the tropics, the gingerbread houses, dating from 1890-1925, typically combined colombage, or stone and brick infilled timber frames, with ornate carved wood facades, masonry piers and sprawling porches. Colombage is a vernacular style having capacity to resist earthquake forces, but other aspects of the gingerbread style, including unreinforced masonry, are notoriously susceptible to ground shaking. The ground floor of Maison Dufort (1910), constructed of masonry and rubble stone piers, was heavily damaged during the earthquake and nearly undermined the second floor constructed of colombage. Horizontal iron ties embedded in the upper reaches of the ground floor walls and anchored at wall ends by decorative iron plates, may have helped stabilize orthogonal wall elements during the earthquake. Although some damage to the infilled wood frames on the second floor was observed, it was nearly all a result of existing termite decay. Although portions of the unreinforced masonry walls remained in place after the earthquake, it was decided to disassemble and reassemble the walls as part of the rehabilitation of the building, in the process adding seismic improvements designed to combine traditional, archaic seismic resisting systems with current techniques. These improvements include strengthening of the existing wood second-floor diaphragm with plywood and steel hardware and accessories, while preserving the traditional method of adding ties for wall continuity. The ground floor masonry walls will remain nominally unreinforced, but a series of horizontal and vertical embedded rods will encourage the walls to remain connected above doorways and window openings, and to promote rocking. The vertical rods are designed to be discontinuous just below the walls at the foundation, to allow shear transfer but also allow uplift and promote the pier rocking mechanism. Strengthening of the second floor diaphragm is primarily conducted to resist the significant out-of-plane forces transmitted from the thick masonry piers. Standard, inexpensive wood-framing accessories are used for the strengthening which can be easily imported into Haiti. This paper explores the mechanisms of the historic vernacular architecture that helped stabilize Maison Dufort during the earthquake and prevented its total collapse, discusses the emergency stabilization, and also the proposed rehabilitation, which is currently under construction. The details of the seismic improvements and their design will be presented, along with photos and drawings from the rehabilitation.

GABA and its synthesising enzyme, glutamate decarboxylase, have been detected in the rat kidney [1–2]. GABA has also been found in human plasma and urine [3–4] and most recently, a renoprotective role for GABA has been suggested [5]. We are systematically investigating functional roles for GABA and glutamate in the mammalian kidney.\ud \ud Contractile pericytes regulate vasa recta diameter in response to a number of endogenous vasoactive agents and in doing so regulate medullary blood flow (MBF) [6]. We have utilised the live kidney slice model [6] to demonstrate GABA-mediated constriction of vasa recta that was significantly greater at pericyte sites than at non-pericyte sites (p< 0.01). Conversely, the GABA substrate glutamate (100 ?M) caused a significantly greater vasodilation of vasa recta at pericyte sites compared to non-pericyte sites (p< 0.05).\ud \ud Data presented here identifies a novel role for GABA and glutamate in pericyte-mediated regulation of vasa recta diameter and thus MBF.

Aim: To investigate the effect of chronic-moderate ethanol (CME) treatment upon direct activation and allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors, and to assess the sensitivity of these parameters to PKC inhibition in control and ethanol-treated cells.\ud Methods: L(tk-) cells were exposed to 20mM ethanol in culture media for 14 days prior to induction of stable expression of human recombinant ?4?3? receptors using dexamethasone. Concentration-response curves for GABA (1nM - 100µM), and allopregnanolone (ALLO; 1nM - 30µM) co-applied with 200nM GABA were obtained using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology at a holding voltage of -60 mV. 400nM calphostin C (CphC) or vehicle (DMSO) was administered to cells via the pipette solution, which was prepared with 2mM Mg.ATP. SDS-PAGE and western blotting were used to compare levels of whole-cell expression, quantified relative to ?-actin, of ?4 and ? GABAA receptor subunits, and several isoforms of PKC (?, ?, ?, and ?), in control and CME-treated cells. Data was reported as Mean ± SEM and significance determined by either one-way ANOVA with Newman-Keuls multiple comparison tests, or two-way, unpaired t-tests.\ud Results: Expression of ?4 subunits was reduced 35% (P0.05) and pEC50 (control: 6.18±0.04, n=13, CME: 6.17±0.04, n=4, P>0.05) of GABA were unchanged. CphC increased the GABA pEC50 relative to control (6.62±0.08, n=3, P0.05), and CphC had no significant effect in control or CME-treated cells.\ud The ALLO pEC50 in control cells (6.23±0.05, n=19) was unaffected by CphC. Following CME, the potency of ALLO was reduced (5.68±0.06, n=9, P

Introduction. Quinine is commonly used to treat malaria; however one of the principal side effects is gastrointestinal disturbances (White, 1992). 5-HT3 receptors modulate gut peristalsis (Chetty et al., 2006), and, as quinine has been shown to act as a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (Thompson and Lummis, 2008) it is possible that these side effects result from actions at gut 5-HT3 receptors. To address this question, we examined the ability of quinine to antagonise 5-HT and 5-HT3 mediated peristalsis in guinea pig and mouse ileum.\ud Methods. Ileum was excised from male guinea pigs (200-300g) and C57BL/6 mice (25-35g) following cervical dislocation. Ileum segments (3-5 cm) were mounted in 50 ml organ baths containing Tryode’s solution at 35-37 °C. Concentration-response curves were constructed for 5-HT and the selective 5-HT3 agonist 2-Me-5-HT (non-cumulative doses). Quinine was pre-applied for 10 min and inhibition measured using agonist concentrations that elicited a submaximal response.\ud Results. Concentration-dependent contractions produced by 5-HT (pEC50 = 5.45 ± 0.17, n = 8) and the selective 5-HT3 agonist 2-Me-5-HT (5.01 ± 0.17, n = 11) were not significantly different (Student’s t-test, t = 0.619, df = 17, p = 0.544) in guinea pig ileum. Increasing concentrations of quinine were able to antagonise the activities of both 5-HT (pIC50 = 5.03 ± 0.2, n = 6) and 2-Me-5HT (pIC50 = 4.59 ± 0.26, n = 4). At mouse ileum, 5-HT (pEC50 = 7.57 ± 0.33, n = 9) was more potent (Student’s t-test, t = 3.6, df = 12, p = 0.004) than 2-Me-5-HT (pEC50 = 5.45 ± 0.58, n = 5). Quinine antagonised both the 5-HT (pIC50 = 4.87 ± 0.31, n = 7) and 2-Me-5-HT-induced (pIC50 = 6.18 ± 1.14, n = 4) contractions.\ud Conclusions. These results support previous electrophysiological studies that identified quinine as an antagonist at recombinant 5-HT3 receptors with IC50 values comparable with those reported here (pIC50 = 4.87, Thompson et al., 2007). Further, we found that quinine completely blocked 5-HT induced contractions in mouse and guinea pig, raising the possibility that quinine targets other 5-HT receptors in the gut (e.g., 5-HT4 receptors) and may influence intestinal function.

In 1987 the United States agreed to register eleven Kuwaiti oil tankers under the American flag and provide them naval protection at the height of the Iran - Iraq War. Motivated primarily by Cold War considerations, the United States embarked on a policy of "neutral intervention" whose intended effects were certain to be disadvantageous to Iran. American planners failed to adequately anticipate Iranian reaction to the American policy, which led to a number of violent naval actions and American retaliatory strikes on Iranian oil facilities. Nevertheless, by April, 1988, the United States had largely achieved its declared objectives, which were to secure the safe transit of Kuwaiti oil through the Gulf, and forestall the expansion of Soviet influence in the region. On April 29, 1988, however, the United States expanded the scope of the protection scheme, extending the U.S. Navy's protective umbrella to all neutral shipping in the Persian Gulf. This decision divorced the American policy from its original limited objectives, increased the likelihood of further confrontation with Iran, and laid the groundwork for the destruction of an Iranian airliner by USS Vincennes (CG-49). http://archive.org/details/betterluckythgoo109453463 US Navy (USN) author. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis addresses coordination between ships of a force in anti-air warfare. In support of the need for effective coordination, two coordination schemes are presented. One is based on earliest intercept time and is a candidate for future use. Here, the ship with the earliest projected intercept time is directed to engage the attacker. The second scheme introduces a load sharing feature where current magazine inventories are considered. In line with broad goals of AAW coordination, several measures of effectiveness to compare the schemes are introduced and particular attention is given to the utility of these measures of effectiveness. Potential simulation scenarios and input parameters for a comparison of the two schemes are then presented along with some specific suggestions for statistical analysis of the results. The thesis concludes with final remarks about load sharing, measures of effectiveness, and testing procedures. http://archive.org/details/loadsharinginnti1094526613 Lieutenant, United States Navy Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Hydroxypropyl lignins (HPLs) from several sources were reacted with propylene oxide to produce chain-extended ) hydroxypropyl lignin (CEHPL) copolymers with molar substitutions (MS) between 1 and 7 propylene oxide units. Isolated copolymers were characterized with respect to their chemical composition, molecular weight and thermal properties. These techniques confirmed the presence of a copolymer with between 20 and 67% lignin. Glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of the CEPHLs followed the behavior predicted by the Gordon-Taylor equation. Properties of the CEHPLs were independent of the original lignin source. The CEHPL copolymers were incorporated into lignin polyurethane networks (LPUs). The LPUs contained 17 to 43% lignin and showed a single Tg. Both the Tg and the Youngs modulus (MOE) of the LPUs were strongly correlated to the lignin content and type of diisocyanate used to prepare the network. Swelling studies indicated that the LPUs prepared from CEHPLs with a high MS (5-7) were not highly crosslinked networks. The LPU properties also appeared to be independent of the lignin source. In another set of experiments a HPL was separated into five fractions (F-HPLs) with molecular weights (MWs) between 1.5 and 10x10³ daltons. The Tg of the F-HPLs was correlated to molecular weight by the Fox-Flory equation. The fractionated HPLs were incorporated into polyurethane networks. The Tgs of these networks were related to the MW of the F-HPL. Swelling studies indicated that low molecular weight monofunctional fragments limited network formation. The LPUs were also used as one component in LPU/polymethyl methacrylate (PMA) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). These IPNs varied in their LPU/PMMA composition and the presence of crosslinking. Dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis showed two phases in all of the IPNs. Mechanical properties were dependent on the IPN composition and phase crosslinking. For IPNs with a crosslinked LPU phase, the MOE values indicated the presence of dual phase continuity. A second series of IPNs was prepared to investigate the effects of lignin content on IPN properties. Phase separation appeared to be related to the lignin content. Mechanical properties were related to lignin content and not the phase behavior. Ph. D.

Dissertação de mestrado aprovada na Marine Corps University (MCU), durante o Command Staff College The Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concept has represented a paradigm shift for the United States Marine Corps by prioritizing this type of operation over amphibious operations. This concept primarily aims to improve the US Marines' capabilities to counter China's A2/AD assets, which threaten US national interests in the Indo-Pacific region by, among other things, limiting freedom of navigation. Although in a different strategic environment than the United States, the sea is also relevant for Brazil. More than 90% of Brazilian international trade occurs by sea. The same percentage represents the proportion of offshore oil concerning the total Brazilian reserves. Moreover, the country's interest in its strategic environment, which includes the South Atlantic and the West African coast, increases the importance of the sea to Brazil. In this sense, the analysis of the applicability of the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concept by the Brazilian Marine Corps results in the finding of the concept's usefulness. In light of this, this paper identifies doctrinal, organizational, and material capability changes required for the Brazilian Marine Corps to implement such a concept. Thus the doctrine of the Brazilian naval forces should contemplate in a more detailed way the littoral operations, expand the contribution of the Brazilian Marine Corps in obtaining sea control, and not consider only the amphibious operations as the structuring operation of the Brazilian Marines. Regarding organization, the Brazilian Marine Corps should create Battalions for littoral operations to contribute to the sea control task both in the Blue Amazon and in the Brazilian strategic environment. Finally, the Brazilian Navy should divest in specific material capabilities, such as policing materials and wheeled armored vehicles, and invest in new capabilities like long-range missiles and medium and low-range air defense assets

A method of producing prepolymeric materials from lignin is disclosed. The method uses lignin which has been hydroxyalkyl modified, such that the lignin is substantially non-phenolic and solvent soluble and/or liquid. The modified lignin is reacted with materials which yield prepolymers which may be polymerized according to known methods to produce useful polymers.

A method of producing prepolymeric materials from lignin is disclosed. The method uses lignin which has been hydroxyalkyl modified, such that the lignin is substantially non-phenolic and solvent soluble and/or liquid. The modified lignin is reacted with materials which yield prepolymers which may be polymerized according to known methods to produce useful polymers.