Search

In Wisconsin there is concern that timber harvesting on nutrient-poor, sandy soils could lead to depletion of nutrients. This concern could become exacerbated by the increasing demand for biofuels, followed by intensified utilization practices. This project measured dry matter and macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) pools and major inputs (bulk precipitation, weathering + mineralization index) and outputs (leaching losses) on four treatment plots at each of five sites on sandy soils at the Governor Knowles State Forest in northwest Wisconsin: an unharvested treatment, a conventional removal of stem and branches down to a diameter of 5 cm, a removal of stem and branches down to a diameter of 10 cm, a removal of all aboveground biomass. All treatments were applied during the early winter, leaf-off period. Data collected over 2 years (2010 and 2011) were applied to a nutrient-balance equation to determine if there were treatment-related differences in nutrient accumulation or depletion. The labile soil was the leading pre- and post-harvest pool for P, K, Ca and Mg in the ecosystem. Biomass removed during Whole-tree harvests constituted ∼50% of the ecosystem nitrogen and contributed significantly to the removal of the other macronutrients. From nutrient input–output balances, N (NH 4 and NO 3 ), K, Ca, and Mg were calculated to be accumulating on all harvest treatments. During the first year after harvest (2010), N mineralization, along with P and Ca accumulation rate, was significantly greater than unharvested treatments. Nitrogen accumulation rates, along with leaching losses of N and P, were significantly lower on all harvest treatments than on unharvested treatments. There were no significant differences in mineralization rates and leaching losses among treatments for the other macronutrients. During the second year (2011), differences in N mineralization, leaching and accumulation rates had largely disappeared. Phosphorus was the only nutrient that showed a net depletion, and this depletion was detected for all harvested treatments. However, the depletion rates were so low that it would take several rotations for any P deficiencies to become apparent. The results of this study may not apply to other sandy soils.

Additional file 1. Description of interviews with key informants.

Wireworms of Agriotes lineatus, A. obscurus, A. sputator and A. sordidus were exposed to insecticide treated soil using two different control methods. One method consisted of a spray application of insecticides at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 300 g a.i. per ha. The other method consisted of a bait treatment at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 g a.i. per ha. Four insecticides were tested: fipronil and the neonicotinoids thiamethoxam, imidacloprid and clothianidin. In the soil treatment trial, chlorpyrifos was added as a reference treatment. The two test methods were conducted at different dates on the various species, but in equally controlled conditions. Mortality was observed after one and two (bait treatment) or three (soil treatment) weeks of exposure. Fipronil was highly lethal to each of the wireworm species tested, regardless of the method used. In general, mortality was higher compared to the neonicotinoids tested, the latter showing low or no mortality at the given dose and exposure variants. Applying fipronil in a bait formulation may decrease the amount of active ingredient per ha considerably, therefore baits may have important environmental benefits.

In a preliminary version of the NA48 experiment at the CERN SPS, in which an iron-scintillator sandwich calorimeter was used as a photon detector, the ratio of K L → πμνγ and K L → πμν decays was measured. The branching ratio BR(K L →πμνγ, E γ ∗ ≥30 MeV )/(K L → πμν ) is found to be (2.08±0.17 +0.16 −0.21 )×10 −3 , where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The result is in agreement with theoretical predictions.

The need for a revision of the Division of Chemical Education’s “Minimum Safety Guidelines for Chemical Demonstrations” is described, along with guiding principles for the revision. The revised guidelines are included as Supporting Information.

The Cape horse mackerel stock off Namibia is assessed using a fleet-disaggregated age-structured production model including historical International Commission for the Southeast Atlantic Fisheries (ICSEAF) and current data. Data from acoustic biomass surveys, on commercial catch per unit effort and on commercial catch-at-age, were used to estimate current stock status over a range of model specifications. A management tool, the so-called management monitor graph, was introduced in order to track past management relative to stock status. Target, limit and precautionary reference points, decision rules and harvesting strategies, according to which the stock should be managed, are described and tested. The target reference point was set at maximum sustainable yield (MSY), the precautionary reference point at 80% of MSY and the limit reference point at 30% of MSY. Owing to some inconsistencies in the dataseries, evaluation of the current state of the resource is challenging, but estimates are that the resourc...

Emotionale und korperliche Misshandlungen in Kindheit und Jugend („childhood maltreatments“, CMs) werden als mogliche atiologische Faktoren des Fibromyalgiesyndroms (FMS) diskutiert. Bisher wurde nicht uberpruft, ob die Assoziation von CMs und FMS durch Mediatoren bedingt ist. CMs von konsekutiven FMS-Patienten aus 3 verschiedenen klinischen Kontexten wurden mit der deutschen Version des Childhood Trauma Questionnaire erfasst. Als mogliche Mediatoren wurden klinisches Setting, Geschlecht, Alter, komorbide depressive Storung und Inanspruchnahme medizinischer Leistungen uberpruft. Es konnten 293/328 Patienten ausgewertet werden (86% Frauen, Durchschnittsalter 50 Jahre): 16% der Patienten berichteten schweren emotionalen, 9% schweren korperlichen und 11% schweren sexuellen Missbrauch sowie 25% schwere emotionale und 13% schwere korperliche Vernachlassigung in Kindheit und Jugend. Die Haufigkeit von CMs war nicht mit Setting, Geschlecht, Alter und Inanspruchnahme medizinischer Leistungen assoziiert. Patienten mit depressiven Storungen gaben haufiger korperlichen (p=0,01) und emotionalen Missbrauch (p=0,001) sowie emotionale (p=0,0008) und korperliche Vernachlassigung (p=0,001) an als Patienten ohne depressive Storung. Komorbide depressive Storungen sind ein Mediator der Assoziation von CMs und FMS. Prospektive bevolkerungsbasierte Studien unter Kontrolle von depressiven Storungen sind notwendig, um die Bedeutung von CMs fur die Atiologie des FMS zu uberprufen.

Wilhelm-Leen ER, Hall YN, deBoer IH, Chertow GM. (Stanford University School of Medicine; University of Washington; Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA). Vitamin D deficiency and frailty in older Americans. J Intern Med 2010; 268: 171–180. Objective. To explore the relation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and frailty. Frailty is a multidimensional phenotype that describes declining physical function and a vulnerability to adverse outcomes in the setting of physical stress such as illness or hospitalization. Low serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are known to be associated with multiple chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in addition to all cause mortality. Design. Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III), we evaluated the association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and frailty, defined according to a set of criteria derived from a definition previously described and validated. Subjects. Nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized US residents collected between 1988 and 1994. Results. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum concentration

Searches for field horizontal-branch (FHB) stars in the halo of the Galaxy in the past have been carried out by several techniques, such as objective-prism surveys and visual or infrared photometric surveys. By choosing adequate color criteria, it is possible to improve the efficiency of identifying bona fide FHB stars among the other objects that exhibit similar characteristics, such as main-sequence A-stars, blue stragglers, subdwarfs, etc. In this work, we report the results of a spectroscopic survey carried out near the south Galactic pole intended to validate FHB stars originally selected from the HK objective-prism survey of Beers and colleagues, based on near-infrared color indices. A comparison between the stellar spectra obtained in this survey with theoretical stellar atmosphere models allows us to determine T eff, log g, and [Fe/H] for 13 stars in the sample. Stellar temperatures were calculated from measured (B – V) o , when this measurement was available (16 stars). The color index criteria adopted in this work are shown to correctly classify 30% of the sample as FHB, 25% as non-FHB (main-sequence stars and subdwarfes), whereas 40% could not be distinguished between FHB and main-sequence stars. We compare the efficacy of different color criteria in the literature intended to select FHB stars, and discuss the use of the Mg II 4481 line to estimate the metallicity.

Using effective temperature and metallicity derived from SDSS spectra for ~60,000 F and G type main sequence stars (0.2, Comment: 40 pages, 21 figures, emulateApJ style, accepted to ApJ, high resolution figures are available from http://www.astro.washington.edu/ivezic/sdss/mw/astroph0804.3850

Das Prostatakarzinom (PCA) ist die haufigste Krebserkrankung des Mannes in Zentral- und Westeuropa. Jahrlich erkranken etwa 202.000 Manner in Europa neu an diesem Tumor. Die kurative Behandlung des PCA per Brachytherapie gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung (20–30% Anteil an kurativen Behandlungen). Von auserordentlicher Bedeutung ist das initiale Staging und damit die pratherapeutische Einteilung in Risikogruppen. Die Low-dose-rate- (LDR-)Brachytherapie (SEED Implantation) unterscheidet sich bezuglich des Verfahrens, sowie der Indikation von der High-dose-rate- (HDR-)Brachytherapie (Afterloading Verfahren). Beide Verfahren finden sowohl als Monotherapie als auch kombiniert mit externer Bestrahlung Anwendung. Bei der LDR-Monotherapie wird im Bereich der Low-risk-Tumoren im 10-Jahres-Follow-up uber eine biochemische Rezidivfreiheit von bis zu 90% berichtet. Bei der kombinierten HDR-Tele- und Brachytherapie wird in Langzeitverlaufen bezuglich der Intermediate- und High-risk-Tumoren uber biochemische Rezidivfreiheiten von 80–90% berichtet. Randomisierte Studien fehlen, aber aus Anwendungsbeobachtungen und Kohortenstudien lassen sich die folgenden Anwendungsalgorithmen ableiten. Die Anwendung der LDR-Monobrachytherapie muss auf Low-risk-Tumoren beschrankt bleiben. Die kombinierte HDR-Tele- und Brachytherapie kann im Bereich der Intermediate- und High-risk-Tumoren erfolgversprechend angewendet werden. Das Outcome hangt initial entscheidend vom pratherapeutischen PSA-Wert und Gleason-Score ab. Posttherapeutisch hat der Nadir die groste Aussagekraft bezuglich der biochemischen Rezidivfreiheit.

Estimates of the incidence of radiocontrast-associated nephropathy vary widely and suffer from misclassification of the cause of AKI and confounding. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we created multiple estimates of the risk of radiocontrast-associated nephropathy among adult patients hospitalized in the United States in 2009. First, we stratified patients according to the presence or absence of 12 relatively common diagnoses associated with AKI and evaluated the rate of AKI between strata. Next, we created a logistic regression model, controlling for comorbidity and acuity of illness, to estimate the risk of AKI associated with radiocontrast administration within each stratum. Finally, we performed an analysis stratified by the degree of preexisting comorbidity. In general, patients who received radiocontrast did not develop AKI at a clinically significant higher rate. Adjusted only for the complex survey design, patients to whom radiocontrast was and was not administered developed AKI at rates of 5.5% and 5.6%, respectively. After controlling for comorbidity and acuity of illness, radiocontrast administration associated with an odds ratio for AKI of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 0.97). In conclusion, the risk of radiocontrast-associated nephropathy may be overstated in the literature and overestimated by clinicians. More accurate AKI risk estimates may improve clinical decision-making when attempting to balance the potential benefits of radiocontrast-enhanced imaging and the risk of AKI.

We investigate the relationship between several previously identified Galactic halo stellar structures in the direction of Virgo using imaging and spectroscopic observations of F turnoff stars and blue horizontal branch stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE). We show that the Sagittarius dwarf leading tidal tail does not pass through the solar neighborhood; it misses the Sun by more than 15 kpc, passing through the Galactic plane outside the Solar Circle. It also is not spatially coincident with the large stellar overdensity S297+63-20.5 in the Virgo constellation. S297+63-20.5 has a distinct turnoff color and kinematics. Faint (g ~ 20.3) turnoff stars in S297+63-20.5 have line-of-sight, Galactic standard of rest velocities V(GSR)= 130 +/- 10 km/s, opposite in sign to infalling Sgr tail stars. The path of the Sgr leading tidal tail is also inconsistent with the positions of some of the nearer stars with which it has been associated, and whose velocities have favored models with prolate Milky Way potentials. We additionally show that the number densities of brighter (g ~ 19.8) F turnoff stars are not symmetric about the Galactic center, and that this discrepancy is not primarily due to the S297+63-20.5 moving group. Either the spheroid is asymmetric about the Galactic center, or there are additional substructures that conspire to be on the same side of the Galaxy as S297+63-20.5. The S297+63-20.5 overdensity in Virgo is likely associated with two other previously identified Virgo substructures: the Virgo Stellar Stream (VSS) and the Virgo Overdensity (VOD). However, the velocity difference between the VSS and S297+63-20.5 and the difference in distance estimates between the VOD and S297+63-20.5 must be reconciled., 10 figures, ApJ in press

Wereport theresultsofaspectroscopicsurvey ofbluestarsnearthe southGalactic pole,selectedaccording totheir color indices in the 2MASS database. The main scope of this work is to determine the nature of the objects that com- prise the sample. Some characteristics of the H� ,H � ,a nd Hlines which are sensitive to temperature and gravity were measured and eventually compared with a grid of model atmospheres to obtain TeA and log g. In some cases the data allowed a unique, reliable classification of the star. Among the 44 stars studied, 5 objects are reliably classified as subdwarfs, 12 as A-typestars, and 3 asfield horizontal-branch (FHB) stars. The remaining objects are either A or FHB stars, but additional observations are necessary to distinguish between these two types. Neither degenerate nor low- gravity stars (post-AGB) have been identified in the sample.

Variable displacement pumps are a key component to a variety of mobile and industrial hydraulic systems, yet the efficiency of existing pump architectures is poor at low displacement. As a solution to this issue, a new pump architecture is proposed that eliminates the planar hydrodynamic joints of a conventional architecture with rolling-element pin joints in an adjustable linkage. This new architecture uses an adjustable six-bar linkage that reaches true zero displacement and has the same top-dead-center (TDC) position regardless of displacement. In this work, the linkage kinematics and dynamics are discussed, an energy loss model is developed and used to drive design decisions of a first generation prototype, and experimental results are presented to validate the model. It is shown that this linkage-based, variable, positive displacement architecture shows promise as a highly efficient alternative to existing pump architectures across a wide range of displacements.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as IFN-α producers and promoters of T-cell activation or tolerance. Here, we demonstrated by flow-cytometry and confocal microscopy that Siglec-1, a molecule involved in the regulation of adaptive immunoresponses, is expressed in a subset of semi-mature, myeloid-like pDCs in human blood. These pDCs express lower BDCA-2 and CD123 and higher HLA-DR and CD11c than Siglec-1-negative pDCs and do not produce IFN-α via TLR7/TLR9 engagement. In vitro, Siglec-1 expression was induced in Siglec-1-negative pDCs by influenza virus. Proportions of Siglec-1-positive/Siglec-1-negative pDCs were higher in SLE than in healthy controls and correlated with disease activity. Healthy donors immunized with yellow fever vaccine YFV-17D displayed different kinetics of the two pDC subsets during protective immune response. PDCs can be subdivided into two subsets according to Siglec-1 expression. These subsets may play specific roles in (auto)immune responses.

A critical question in planning a response to bioterrorism is how antibiotics and medical supplies should be stockpiled and dispensed. The objective of this work was to evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative strategies for maintaining and dispensing local and regional inventories of antibiotics and medical supplies for responses to anthrax bioterrorism. We modeled the regional and local supply chain for antibiotics and medical supplies as well as local dispensing capacity. We found that mortality was highly dependent on the local dispensing capacity, the number of individuals requiring prophylaxis, adherence to prophylactic antibiotics, and delays in attack detection. For an attack exposing 250,000 people and requiring the prophylaxis of 5 million people, expected mortality fell from 243,000 to 145,000 as the dispensing capacity increased from 14,000 to 420,000 individuals per day. At low dispensing capacities (14,000 individuals per day), nearly all exposed individuals died, regardless of the rate of adherence to prophylaxis, delays in attack detection, or availability of local inventories. No benefit was achieved by doubling local inventories at low dispensing capacities; however, at higher dispensing capacities, the cost-effectiveness of doubling local inventories fell from 100,000 US dollars to 20,000 US dollars/life year gained as the annual probability of an attack increased from 0.0002 to 0.001. We conclude that because of the reportedly rapid availability of regional inventories, the critical determinant of mortality following anthrax bioterrorism is local dispensing capacity. Bioterrorism preparedness efforts directed at improving local dispensing capacity are required before benefits can be reaped from enhancing local inventories.

This study determined measured and Mie-calculated angular signal truncations for total and backscatter TSI, Inc., nephelometers, as a function of wavelength and for particles of known size and composition. Except for the total scattering channels, similar agreements as in a previous study of measured and calculated truncations were derived for submicrometer test aerosols. For the first time, instrument responses were also determined for supermicrometer test aerosols up to 1.9 μm in geometric mean diameter. These supermicrometer data confirm the theoretical predictions of strong angular truncations of the total scatter signals in integrating nephelometers due to the limited range of measured forward scattering angles. Truncations up to 60% were determined for the largest measured particles. Rough empirical truncation corrections have been derived from the calibration data for Radiance Research and Ecotech nephelometers for which no detailed response characteristics exist. Intercomparisons of the nephelometers measuring urban atmospheric aerosols yield average deviations of the slope from a 1:1 relation with a TSI reference nephelometer of less than 7%. Average intercepts range between +0.53 and −0.19 Mm−1. For the Radiance Research and Ecotech nephelometers ambient regressions of the Radiance Research and Ecotech instruments with the TSI nephelometer show larger negative intercepts, which are attributed to their less well characterized optics.

The development of a large-area RF source for negative hydrogen ions, an official EFDA task agreement, is aiming at demonstrating ITER-relevant ion source parameters. This implies a current density of 200?A?m?2 accelerated D? ions at a source filling pressure of ?0.3?Pa and an electron-to-ion ratio of ?1 from an extraction area similar to the positive-ion based sources at JET and ASDEX Upgrade and for pulse lengths of up to 1?h. The work is progressing along three lines in parallel: (i) optimization of current densities at low pressure and electron/ion ratio, utilizing small extraction areas (

Bei Fibromyalgie-(FMS-)patienten wurde eine hohe Inanspruchnahme medizinischer Leistungen beschrieben. Es liegen keine Studien vor, ob die subjektiven Krankheitsattributionen der Patienten ihr Inanspruchnahmeverhalten beeinflussen. 100 FMS-Patienten aus der sozialgerichtlichen Begutachtung und 25 aus einer Schmerzambulanz wurden mittels einer schmerztherapeutischen Anamnese untersucht. Die subjektiven Krankheitstheorien wurden den Angaben der Patienten im Deutschen Schmerzfragebogen (DSF) entnommen. Die Angaben im DSF zur Inanspruchnahme von Versorgungsleistungen wurden mit den Unterlagen und den Angaben im schmerztherapeutischen Interview abgeglichen. 44% der Patienten gaben eine somatische, 2% eine psychogene, 9% keine und 45% eine psychosomatische Krankheitsattribution an. 25% der Patienten wurden als „High-Utilizer“ spezieller medizinischer Leistungen und 14% von psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutischen Leistungen klassifiziert. Signifikante Zusammenhange zwischen der Art der subjektiven Krankheitstheorie und der Inanspruchnahme spezieller medizinischer und/oder psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutischer Leistungen fanden sich nicht. Nur ein Teil der FMS-Patienten weist — aus psychosomatischer Sicht — eine unangemessene einseitig somatische Krankheitsattribution auf. Die Inanspruchnahme von Versorgungsleistungen ist nicht durch die subjektiven Krankheitsattributionen erklarbar.

(Abridged) We perform an analysis of spectra and photometry for 22,770 stars included in the third data release (DR3) of the SDSS. We measure radial velocities and, based on a model-atmosphere analysis, derive estimates ofthe atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, and [Fe/H]) for each star. Stellar evolution models are then used to estimate distances. The SDSS sample covers a range in stellar brightness of 14 < V < 22, and comprises large numbers of F- and G-type stars from the thick-disk and halo populations (up to 100 kpc from the galactic plane), therefore including some of the oldest stars in the Milky Way. In agreement with previous results from the literature, we find that halo stars exhibit a broad range of iron abundances, with a peak at [Fe/H] ~ -1.4. This population exhibits essentially no galactic rotation. Thick-disk G-dwarf stars at distances from the galactic plane in the range 1, Comment: 18 pages, 16 figures; accepted for publication in the ApJ; also available from http://hebe.as.utexas.edu/

We identified 13 specimens of Preble's shrew (Sorex preblei) and 5 specimens of the Inyo shrew (Sorex tenellus) from Lassen Volcanic National Park (LVNP), California. These records represent the first captures of either species from LVNP and substantially extend the ranges of both. This is the first recorded instance of these 2 species occurring in sympatry.

The formation of negative ions in plasma sources by the surface process requires covering the extraction grid with a material of low work function. This can be achieved by cesium evaporation but for operational reasons the consumption of cesium should be minimised. In order to quantify the amount of cesium in the RF discharge optical emission spectroscopy is used as diagnostic tool. Suitable diagnostic lines and their analysis to obtain particle densities and particle fluxes are described. Influences of argon admixtures to hydrogen and deuterium discharges on cesium emission are shown. A correlation of the cesium emission with the extracted negative ion current density is discussed.

With an extraction area of 152 cm 2 a calorimetrically measured H − current density of 19.3 mA/cm 2 has been achieved at 0.45 Pa with 90 kW RF power. With 306 cm 2 the electrically measured H − current has reached up to 9.7 A corresponding to 32 mA/cm 2 at 100 kW. The current on the calorimeter is limited by the extraction system. Down to 0.2 Pa only a weak dependence on the source pressure has been observed. The test bed will be upgraded to demonstrate cw operation with deuterium. Based on the tested prototype a half size ITER RF-source of 80 cm × 90 cm with 360 kW RF power has been designed.

IPP Garching is currently developing a RF driven negative ion source for the ITER neutral beam injection system as an alternative to the present design with filamented sources. This paper reports an overview on the present status and the further prospects of the RF source development. Current densities of 26 mA/cm 2 and 15 mA/cm 2 have been achieved for hydrogen and deuterium, respectively, at a pressure of less than 0.5 Pa and an electron/ion ratio of 1. Size scaling experiments indicate a maximum extraction area which can be illuminated by a driver without losses of beam quality and uniformity. The preparation of a test facility for pulse lengths of up to 3600 s is proceeding; commissioning is expected end of 2004. As an intermediate step tests of a large source with the half size of the ITER source are foreseen to be commissioned in 2005.

As an alternative for ITER NBI a RF source is being developed at IPP, Garching. This paper reports the first results with deuterium extracted from a restricted extraction area and accelerated to about 22 KeV. A current density of 150 A/m2 (calorimetric) of D− ions has been reached so far in a Cs-seeded discharge with an electron/ion ration of ≤1. The effect of the magnetic filter field on the yield and the electron suppression and possible limitations/improvements are discussed. The neutron production rate is about a factor 40 lower than expected from positive ions. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Based on the spectral characteristics of cotton canopies, a plant nitrogen sensor was designed and fabricated for detection of nitrogen status in cotton plants. The sensor is an active optical multi-spectral sensing unit. It measures spectral reflectance from a cotton canopy in blue, green, red, and near infrared wavebands with a modulated illumination to the cotton canopy. The sensor was tested in the laboratory and field, and promising results were obtained. This article describes the design, implementation, and testing of the sensor.

Cooling and aeration improve or maintain desired quality of pelleted feed products. By knowing the resistance to airflow through feed products, fans can be selected to efficiently achieve proper aeration. Extensive data defining the relationship between airflow and pressure drop per unit depth of material has been published for several types of biological material. There is not much information on the resistance to airflow of pelleted feed products. This study focuses on air resistance through four pelleted feed sizes (4.0 mm, 6.7 mm, and 19.4 mm diameters and 33.2 × 34.9 mm cubes). Data have been published for sizes similar to the 6.7 mm pellets and the cubes, but no data are available for the other two sizes. Three bin shapes (round, square, rectangular) containing equal airflow areas were tested. A “loose” and a “packed” fill were also tested for each product size except for the cubes, which was tested at a loose fill only. The data obtained were well represented by Shedd’s equation. Shape of the test bin appeared to have no effect on measured airflow resistance. The pressure drop increased with the packed fill over the loose fill, but graphically, the variation of airflow with pressure drop appeared to be the same for both conditions.

The effect of ultrasound and microwave assistance in enhancing extraction oil yields from soybeans when different solvents are used for extraction was investigated in two separate experiments. Each study involved a three-factor factorial following a completely randomized design that was replicated three times. Treatment factors investigated in the microwave processing study were microwave pretreatment time (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 min), solvent (isopropanol, hexane, and 3:2 hexane-isopropanol mixture), and extraction time (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 h). Ultrasonic intensity (0, 16.4, 20.9, and 47.6 W/cm2) was substituted as a treatment factor in the sonication study. Solvent extraction was accomplished by immersion of ground soybeans in a given volume of solvent at ambient temperature. While oil yields did not approach the 19.2% analyzed oil content of the TN 96-58 used as the test material, they were found to increase with both intensity of the process assistance and extraction time under the conditions of the studies, particularly with hexane and the mixed solvent. The highest yield result of 12.21 g from 100 g soybeans was obtained with the mixed solvent under 47.6 W/cm2 sonication. The results obtained with the mixed solvent with both microwave pretreatment and ultrasound assistance are difficult to explain in terms of physical chemistry. The results with isopropanol indicate that the efficiency of the extraction process depends greatly on the molecular affinity between solvent and solute and that process assistance tested in this study cannot overcome inherent deficiencies in solvent-solute interactions.

We present a new estimate of the mass of the Milky Way, making use of a large sample of 955 field horizontal-branch (FHB) stars from the Early Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. This sample of stars has been classified on the basis of an automated analysis approach, in combination with other methods, in order to obtain estimates of the physical parameters of the stars, i.e., Teff, log g, [Fe/H], and should be relatively free of contamination from halo blue stragglers. the stars all have measured radial velocities and photometric distance estimates, and the sample includes objects as distant as ~ 75 kpc from the Galactic center. Application of a Bayesian likelihood method, for a specific model of the Galaxy, indicates that the total mass of the Galaxy lies in the range 1.5 − 4.0 × 1012 M⊙. Our sample appears to reveal a clear signature of a dual halo population of FHB stars, with the boundary between the inner and outer halo around 20 kpc, and the possibility of rather striking differences in the rotational properties of the Galaxy at low metallicity.

The development of a large-area RF source for the negative ion beam production has been continued concentrating on investigations of volume-mode Cs-free operation. In contrast to most arc discharge sources the extracted H− current density can be significantly improved in the RF source by the addition of argon. Probe measurements close to the plasma grid show that this enhancement is due to a dramatically increased plasma density with the addition of argon. Variation of the number of extraction holes and of the effective transparency showed no dependence of the current density on the extraction area or on the transparency, however, still at a rather low level. The H− current density that has been reached at present amounts to about 5 mA/cm2 at 100 kW and 0.6 Pa without cesium as published previously. In order to investigate the role of the magnetic filter, a large electromagnet has undergone first tests. Preliminary results show no strong dependence on the magnetic field.

A new ECRH system is being constructed for ASDEX Upgrade with a total power of 4 MW, generated by four gyrotrons, and a pulse duration of 10 s. Particular features are the use of gyrotrons which can work at various frequencies in the range 104–140 GHz and correspondingly broad band transmission components. The transmission will be at normal air pressure, and at the torus we will have a tunable double disk vacuum window. A further aim is the installation of fast moveable mirrors for a feedback controlled localized power deposition.

The Century Survey Galactic Halo Project is a photometric and spectroscopic survey from which we select relatively blue stars (V-R, Comment: 19 pages, including 11 figures. Full data tables on request from W.R.B. Accepted by AJ

An ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) probe [F.W. Baity, G.C. Barber, V. Bobkov, R.H. Goulding, J.-M. Noterdaeme, D.W. Swain, in: 14th Topical Conference on Radiofrequency Power in Plasmas, Oxnard 2001, AIP Conference Proceedings 595, AIP, Melville, NY, 2001, p. 510] has been implemented to study voltage stand-off of the ICRF antennas on ASDEX Upgrade (AUG). The probe was operated at first in a test stand where features of high RF voltage operation in vacuum and plasma created by an ion source of the Hall type [Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 8 (1999) R1] were studied. Vacuum arcs as well as ignition of high voltage glow discharge are candidate processes to explain voltage limits of the ICRF antennas. The setup on AUG was used to expose high RF voltages in real conditions of the tokamak scrape-off layer which are faced by the ICRF antennas. It is found that high voltage breakdown on the ICRF antenna is often correlated with ELM activity. The maximal RF voltage increased from shot to shot, i.e. the conditioning effect is observed. For the good-conditioned ICRF probe it was shown experimentally that the voltage limit can be increased while the rectified current is suppressed at the same time.

Fourteen years of accumulated electrical energy use data related to milking operations at the 160-cow University of Tennessee Dairy Experiment Station in Lewisburg, Tennessee were analyzed to quantify relative effects of production -related factors on energy use within the milking center. Energy use was measured for vacuum pumps, refrigeration compressors, water heaters, and an air compressor. These energy use figures were then related to the recorded production parameters: number of cows milked, the amount of milk sold, percent butterfat of the milk, the total pounds of fat corrected milk, and high and low dry bulb temperature by means of multiple regression. Analyses were made on a monthly and yearly basis. Total dairy energy use could not be computed due to numerous non-dairy load components in the Experiment Station that could not be subtracted. It followed logically that number of cows milked, milk production, and weather conditions represented by dry bulb temperature were found to be the major factors affecting energy use. However, no parameter, or combination of parameters, explained in a statistical sense more than 74% of the variability in the recorded energy use by the equipment studied. Quantity, and not quality, of milk produced was the most significant factor affecting energy use, with the number of cows milked and outside temperatures playing lesser roles. Regression results showing that cow numbers was not a factor related to energy use for milk cooling or vacuum pump operation, lead to some questions about the validity of kWh/cow/yr as an energy use indicator. For the 14 years of data available, average EUIs for the vacuum pumps for milking (1.10 kWh/cwt) and the refrigeration compressors for milk cooling (1.02 kWh/cwt) were near the upper range of published reference values (0.4 to 1.19 kWh/cwt and 0.8 to 1.10 kWh/cwt, respectively), while average EUI for water heaters (0.65 kWh/cwt) were well below the published range (0.95 to 1.40 kWh/cwt). The former two results confirm the validity of the published EUIs that were based only on a few year’s data. Interestingly, the results also indicate a general consistency in the year to year operation of similarly sized dairy operations. The lower EUI for the water heater was due to the use of a preheater and also the every-other-day milk collection at the dairy.

The concept of “metabolic zonation” in the liver proposes that opposing or complementary metabolic pathways are carried out within distinct regions of the liver lobule to maintain optimal metabolic homeostasis. As bovine placentomes morpho-topographically differ in mass and shape within the pregnant tract, an event more pronounced in cloned-derived concepti, the aims of this study were (a) to investigate the occurrence of metabolic zonation in the bovine placenta by placentome shape and size, and (b) to compare placenta metabolic functions between control and cloned concepti, which may relate to the abnormal conceptus growth after cloning. Bovine pregnancies established by superovulation and AI (Control group, n = 4) or by cloning by nuclear transfer (Cloned group, n = 6) were slaughtered on Day 225 of gestation, with the harvesting of maternal and conceptus tissues and fluids [Gerger et al. 2016 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 29, 950-967; 10.1071/RD15215]. Placentomes were excised, weighed, measured, and classified by shape as types A, B, C or D. Total RNA from each placentome type per group was extracted, reverse transcribed, and used for the RT-qPCR analysis of 27 key genes related to glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, fructolysis, fructogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, glucose transporters, apoptosis, and components of the IGF system. Data were analysed by ANOVA, the Tukey test, and a simple correlation test. Day-225 cloned concepti were 2-fold larger than controls, with 64% of placentomes being larger than the largest in the Control group. A linear positive correlation between mass, size and shape was observed in the control group, with 83% of the normal-shaped placentomes (A and B) representing 85% of the total placenta weight. Conversely, abnormal-shaped placentomes (C and D) represented 39% in the cloned group and 32% total placenta mass, for fewer type A and more type C placentomes in clones. No differences were detected in expression for key metabolic-related genes between placentas of clones and controls, irrespective of the placentome type. However, differences were verified between placentome types, with an increase in gene expression in type C in relation to type A placentomes for glucose transporters (2.2-fold), glycolysis (1.7-fold), PPP (2.1-fold), fructogenesis (1.3- to 1.6-fold), Igf2 (2.1-fold) and Igf1r (2.2-fold), for a 2.5-fold decrease in Igf2r, with no difference in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis or apoptosis. The differential expression pattern observed only between placentome types demonstrates a potential metabolic zonation in the bovine placenta. Therefore, morpho-physiologic differences observed between clones and controls could be due to changes in size and proportions of placentome types, and not due to changes in tissue unit function per se. The more significant proportion of type C placentomes in the placenta of clones may be associated with increased fructose synthesis due to increased glucose supply, in a nutrient surplus that promotes conceptus growth.

An exact, geometry-based analytical model is presented that can be used to compute the expected cycle time for a storage/retrieval (S/R) machine, executing single-commands, dual-commands, or both, in a rack structure that has been laid out in pre-specified storage zones for classes of goods. The rack may be either square-in-time or non-square-in-time. The approach is intuitively appealing, and it does not assume any certain layout shape, such as traditional 'L-shaped' class layouts. The model has been coded in Turbo Pascal, and can be used by designers as a tool for quickly evaluating alternative layout configurations with respect to expected S/R cycle time in an AS/RS, and thereby the throughput of an automated warehouse over time. This model has been successfully applied in a major manufacturing plant in Europe to evaluate reconfigurations of their rack storage layouts over the past five years.

Otoliths collected at least monthly from scat samples of Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus are used to show that shallow-water hake Merluccius capensis from the northern Benguela develop three translucent zones in their first 1·5 years of life. The novel sampling approach provided otoliths that belonged to four M. capensis cohorts of approximate known age (hatched in 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2005), allowing age verification. Following spawning in austral winter, translucent zones consistently formed first in summer and autumn (T1), then in winter and spring (T2) and again in summer and autumn (T3), with no difference in appearance of the zones (biannuli) for the four cohorts considered. The second translucent zone is usually the first true annulus (year mark). It forms during July to September in fish of 15-20 cm total length (LT ). Formation of the translucent zones appears to be determined by fish length or age, rather than by exogenous cues. It is suggested that length measurements should be used to help determine the first age group; fish with a translucent zone marked at otolith lengths7·5 mm should be termed 1 year-old fish. Ages of M. capensis used in previous stock assessment models have been overestimated. Biannuli are an unusual occurrence in fish otoliths in general, but have been observed in other Merluccius species.

Current state of the art variable displacement pumps suffer from poor efficiency at low volumetric displacement. Additionally, their performance is strongly dependent on operating conditions. A new variable displacement linkage pump architecture has been developed which can achieve high efficiency across a wide range of operating conditions. Previous work has described the kinematics, energy loss modeling, and experimental validation of a low power single cylinder prototype as well as the design of a second generation prototype. The second generation pump employs roller element bearings in its joints to minimize friction losses and the three cylinder design reduces the pressure ripple. In this paper, experimental characterization is presented of the new 21 MPa, 6.75 cc/rev pump. High mechanical efficiency is achieved at low volumetric displacements at partial loads as low as 0.6% of maximum power. Poorly performing cartridge check valves result in low volumetric efficiencies at low displacements. Close agreement was obtained between the model and predicted work input using measured cylinder data as an input into the model. This work shows that the presented pump with properly functioning valves can achieve high efficiency across a wide range of operating conditions. Having such versatile pump performance can greatly improve the performance of hydraulic systems as well as expand their potential applications.

Background Epoetin alfa (EPO) and darbepoetin alfa (DPO) are erythropoiesis-stimulating agents that are widely and interchangeably used for the treatment of anemia in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. No study has specifically compared the risks of hard study outcomes between EPO and DPO, including mortality. Study Design Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. Setting & Population Patients enrolled in randomized trials comparing EPO versus DPO for the treatment of anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease, including those requiring dialysis. Selection Criteria for Studies We conducted a systematic search of the literature (PubMed, CENTRAL, SCOPUS, and EMBASE, all years) and industry resources, using predefined search terms and data abstraction tools. We then summarized key characteristics and findings of these trials and performed a random-effects meta-analysis of trials with at least 3 months' duration to identify the summary OR of mortality between patients randomly assigned to DPO versus EPO. Intervention DPO versus EPO. Outcome All-cause mortality. Results We identified 9 trials that met the stated inclusion criteria. Overall, 2,024 patients were included in the meta-analysis, of whom 126 died during follow-up, which ranged from 20 to 52 weeks. We found no significant difference in mortality between patients randomly assigned to DPO versus EPO (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.88-2.01). No treatment heterogeneity across studies was detected (Q statistic=4.60; P =0.8). Limitations Generalizability to nontrial populations is uncertain. Conclusions Few trials directly comparing DPO and EPO have been conducted and follow-up was limited. In aggregate, no effect of specific erythropoiesis-stimulating agent on mortality was identified, but the confidence limits were wide and remained compatible with considerable harm from DPO. Absent adequately powered randomized trials, observational postmarketing comparative effectiveness studies comparing these erythropoiesis-stimulating agents are required to better characterize the long-term safety profiles of these agents.

A large area RF source for negative ion-based injection systems has been developed and for the first time H − -current densities have been extracted which are comparable to those produced by conventional arc sources. This paper describes the design of the source and gives the results of H − -extraction experiments. A feature of this RF source is an increase of extracted ion current by up to a factor of four if noble gases are added to the hydrogen discharge. By this effect, a current density of 9 mA/cm 2 at 0.65 Pa has been achieved in volume production. With caesium seeding up to 20 mA/cm 2 could be extracted at 1 Pa source pressure with the addition of argon and a hot plasma grid. Recently, the RF source has been modified for long pulse operation by the installation of a Faraday screen.

Measurements of cosmic rays in the L3 multisampling chambers are presented. The study of tracks with polar angles from 30° θ

We have measured the partial widths of the Z 0 into lepton pairs, and the forward-backward charge asymmetry for the process e + e − → μ + μ − using the L3 detector at LEP. We obtain an average Γ ll of 83.0±2.1±1.1 MeV.From this result and the asymmetry measurement, we extract the values of the vector and axial vector couplings of the Z 0 to leptons: g rmv =−0.066 −0.027 +0.046 and g rmA = −0.495 −0.007 +0.007 .