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Abstract Introduction Co-production is a collaborative approach to service user involvement in which users and researchers share power and responsibility in the research process. Although previous reviews have investigated co-production in mental health research, these do not typically focus on psychosis or severe mental health conditions. Meanwhile, people with psychosis may be under-represented in co-production efforts. This scoping review aims to explore the peer-reviewed literature to better understand the processes and terminology employed, as well as the barriers, facilitators, and outcomes of co-production in psychosis research. Methods Three databases were searched (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO) using terms and headings related to psychosis and co-production. All titles, abstracts and full texts were independently double-screened. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. Original research articles reporting on processes and methods of co-production involving adults with psychosis as well as barriers, facilitators, and/or outcomes of co-production were included. Data was extracted using a standardised template and synthesised narratively. Joanna Briggs Institute and the AGREE Reporting Checklist were used for quality assessment. Results The search returned 1243 references. Fifteen studies were included: five qualitative, two cross-sectional, and eight descriptive studies. Most studies took place in the UK, and all reported user involvement in the research process; however, the amount and methods of involvement varied greatly. Although all studies were required to satisfy INVOLVE (2018) principles of co-production to be included, seven were missing several of the key features of co-production and often used different terms to describe their collaborative approaches. Commonly reported outcomes included improvements in mutual engagement as well as depth of understanding and exploration. Key barriers were power differentials between researchers and service users and stigma. Key facilitators were stakeholder buy-in and effective communication. Conclusions The methodology, terminology and quality of the studies varied considerably; meanwhile, over-representation of UK studies suggests there may be even more heterogeneity in the global literature not captured by our review. This study makes recommendations for encouraging co-production and improving the reporting of co-produced research, while also identifying several limitations that could be improved upon for a more comprehensive review of the literature.

ABSTRACT Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator responsible for vasodilation in pulmonary hypertension (PH) in humans. Based on human literature, it is suggested that in dogs there is also NO production decrease in lung tissue in the presence of PH with hypoxia. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the indirect plasmatic NO concentration in dogs with PH secondary or not to the left-side heart disease (LHD) and also with low, intermediate and high probability of PH to characterize the NO involvement on PH in dogs. Blood samples were collected from 35 dogs with probability of PH to NO measurement. NO concentration was estimated by the nitrite/nitrate concentration, and it was significantly different (p=0.002) in dogs with PH secondary to LHD (median=14 µM, range 11.19-16.59) and not secondary to LHD (median=25.88µM, range 15.08-36.71). However, this was not significant for the probability of low, intermediate, and high PH, although there was a tendency for NO concentration to be higher in dogs with high PH. The results of this study demonstrate that there is release of NO in dogs with PH, as well as that its dosage could differentiate dogs with PH secondary to LHD from dogs with non-secondary PH.

In this work, three variants of the Brayton cycle incorporating concentrated solar technologies and dual regenerative systems are modeled. The first variant employs reheat, intercooling, and regeneration, the second applies intercooling and regeneration while the third case involves regeneration only. With the application of the entropy generation method and particle swarm algorithm (PSA), processes with the largest irreversibilities are noted, minimized and the geometric parameters of participating components are optimized.Results show that irreversibilities occurring in the systems were largely due to finite temperature differences within components. In all cases, the solar receiver and intercooler are the dominant and modest sources of entropy generation respectively. The regenerative system entropy generation is highest in the first case while decreasing in the second and third cases respectively. An improvement in the exergy/availability was observed in the first case, as the first and second law efficiency peaks at 44.9% and 59.68% respectively. Though, with a lower second law efficiency than the former, its percentage network output is equal to the first case at 43%. The aspect ratio, hydraulic diameter, and length of the receiver were observed to vary to enhance greater heat capture and increase the turbine inlet temperature (TIT). The high temperature (HT) regenerator had its geometric properties of a higher magnitude than the low temperature (LT) system as the waste heat recovery is aided by an enhanced heat transfer surface area. In comparison with the single regeneration system, the network output of the dual model was about 33.5% with a significant reduction in the entropy generated, creating a trade-off between operating the system for more power or less generation of irreversibilities.

Indexed 3D Scene Layers (I3S), an OGC Community Standard for streaming and storing massive amounts of geospatial content has been rapidly evolving to capture new use cases and techniques to advance geospatial visualization and analysis. I3S enables efficient transmission of various 3D geospatial data types including discrete 3D objects with attributes, integrated surface meshes and point cloud data covering vast geographic areas as well as highly detailed BIM (Building Information Model) content, to web browsers, mobile apps and desktop.In this paper, we will explore multiple evolutions of I3S, including the latest, OGC I3S Version 1.2, that brings dramatic improvements in performance and scalability. We will demonstrate the advantages, including its support for a paged node access pattern, a more compact geometry layout, advanced material definitions property that supports PBR, as well as its support for supercompression of texture data using the Basis Universal SuperCompressed Texture format in KTX™2.0 containers. We will also demonstrate collaborative & research work done to dramatically improve in Basis compressed texture creation in KTX™2.0 container leveraging both the CPU and GPU – contributions that benefit both the geospatial and 3d graphics communities.The paper will conclude by highlighting and documenting various use cases and application, where formats such as I3S are pushing the envelope in geospatial technology – by enabling seamless and ubiquitous access to vast amounts of geospatial data which traditionally have required specialized hardware and software platforms.

During the Chequamegon Heterogeneous Ecosystem Energy-balance Study Enabled by a High-density Extensive Array of Detectors 2019 (CHEESEHEAD19) field campaign, held in the summer of 2019 in northern Wisconsin, USA, active and passive ground-based remote sensing instruments were deployed to understand the response of the planetary boundary layer to heterogeneous land surface forcing. These instruments include radar wind profilers, microwave radiometers, atmospheric emitted radiance interferometers, ceilometers, high spectral resolution lidars, Doppler lidars, and collaborative lower-atmospheric mobile profiling systems that combine several of these instruments. In this study, these ground-based remote sensing instruments are used to estimate the height of the daytime planetary boundary layer, and their performance is compared against independent boundary layer depth estimates obtained from radiosondes launched as part of the field campaign. The impact of clouds (in particular boundary layer clouds) on boundary layer depth estimations is also investigated. We found that while all instruments are overall able to provide reasonable boundary layer depth estimates, each of them shows strengths and weaknesses under certain conditions. For example, radar wind profilers perform well during cloud-free conditions, and microwave radiometers and atmospheric emitted radiance interferometers have a very good agreement during all conditions but are limited by the smoothness of the retrieved thermodynamic profiles. The estimates from ceilometers and high spectral resolution lidars can be hindered by the presence of elevated aerosol layers or clouds, and the multi-instrument retrieval from the collaborative lower atmospheric mobile profiling systems can be constricted to a limited height range in low-aerosol conditions.

Inuit have lived along the shoreline of the frozen Arctic Ocean for centuries. Our wellbeing, culture, and identity are closely tied to safe and dependable ice access. As the ice becomes more unpredictable with a changing climate, Elders and experienced ice users recognize that their accumulated wisdom and experience of safe ice travel—their Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ; a term used to describe Inuit knowledge and values) of sea-ice—must be shared and applied in new ways for the benefit of younger generations. Here we illustrate one such application that enables young Inuit scientists to learn and apply the tools and skills they need to create operational community-scale sea-ice maps (Sikumik Qaujimajjuti, or “tool to know how the ice is”). Our cross-cultural partnership approach—called the Sikumiut-SmartICE model—focuses on developing the skills of young Inuit to create the maps, while non-Indigenous partners provide mentorship, tools, and training. Our novel maps incorporate culturally relevant ice terminology, on-ice monitoring data and observations, and IQ-grounded interpretations of ice features and travel conditions from near-real time optical and radar satellite imagery. The layers of data are integrated into a local GIS, enabling the creation of maps that reflect local and seasonal travel patterns and meet our information needs in information content, extent and frequency. The maps are posted and shared through social media platforms preferred by the community. The maps are a trusted source of travel information because they are made by one of our own, using local language, experience, and IQ. The Sikumik Qaujimajjuti program illustrates the incredible potential of Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science when the scientific merit of IQ is fully recognized, when Indigenous researchers are able to access technologies and training to apply their IQ, and when non-Indigenous partners mentor and support young Indigenous scientists.

Geophysical methods and building diagnostics are non-destructive measurements which can inform about quality of rocks, hydrology conditions or artificial objects (tunnels, foundation of buildings, constructions etc.). Such methods are in the principle non-destructive without impact on environment or population. Hence these methods are mostly cheaper and more acceptable than drilling, travelling with heavy machines etc. Geophysical methods study physical fields and are divided as follows: Geoelectrical methods, Seismics, Gravimetry, Magnetometry, Thermometry, Radiometry. The geophysical measurements can be carried out on a surface of terrain, in boreholes (well logging) or in the air (airborne geophysics). The non-destructive building diagnostics use mostly measurements relating to the seismic, acoustic or nuclear properties. The time-lapse monitoring of administered objects by non-destructive methods can bring beneficial and fundamental source of information about actual conditions of managed objects. Presented non-destructive measurements use sophisticated technologies and respected geophysical companies follow international and domestic standards and legislation. Geophysicists are organized mainly in international associations such as EAGE (European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers) or SEG (Society of Exploration Geophysics). This paper presents typical examples of application of non-destructive methods to our practice.

The intracranial compliance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and the association with cardiovascular autonomic control have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess intracranial compliance using the noninvasive intracranial pressure (niICP) and the monitoring of waveform peaks (P1, P2, and P3) and the relationship with cardiovascular autonomic control in T2DM patients. Thirty-two men aged 40-60 years without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) were studied: T2DMG (n=16) and control group CG (n=16). The niICP was evaluated by a noninvasive extracranial sensor placed on the scalp. Cardiovascular autonomic control was evaluated by indices of the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), from temporal series of R-R intervals of electrocardiogram and systolic arterial pressure, during supine and orthostatic positions. The participants remained in the supine position for 15 min and then 15 min more in orthostatism. T2DMG presented a decrease of the P2/P1 ratio during the orthostatic position (P

The receiver and heat exchangers in a Solar Thermal Brayton Cycle (STBC) have been the main sources of exergy loss. Duct profiles used in the heat exchange process have been observed to possess varying degrees of heat transfer effectiveness. To this end, the effects of the elliptical, circular and rectangular absorber tubes are investigated on three variants of the dual serial-regenerative STBC models employing reheater, intercooler, or in a combined arrangement. Also, the impact of the parallel plate heat exchanger (PPHE) and spiral plate heat exchangers (SPHE) on irreversibility is investigated. The particle swarm algorithm (PSA), a stochastic optimization tool is used for the minimization of irreversibilities within the cycle and optimization of the geometric parameters of the STBC components. The largest irreversibility loss on a component-basis is observed on the receiver. The rectangular absorber system for the receiver has the least irreversibility loss compared to other profiles studied, though, a higher internal to external irreversibility ratio was noticed. Improved exergy use via the dual regenerative system was observed on all models with reductions of 22% and 15% in irreversibility obtained from the receiver and recuperator respectively. In addition, the SPHE produced less irreversibilities compared to the PPHE system and this could be attributed to its large surface area available for heat transfer. An optimal second law efficiency of 62% and 74% on the PPHE and SPHE STBC systems, respectively is achieved at around a pressure ratio of 2.2. The dual serial-regenerative system without reheats and intercooling has the advantage of optimal energy available and efficient exergy use followed by the combined system.

Abstract This article is composed of three independent commentaries about the state of Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) principles (Goldman et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1002/essoar.10508554.1) in the AGU section paleoclimatology and paleoceanography (P&P), and a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of adopting them. Each commentary focuses on a different topic: (Section 2) Global collaboration, technology transfer and application, reproducibility, and data sharing and infrastructure; (Section 3) Local knowledge, global gain: improving interactions within the scientific community and with locals, indigenous communities, stakeholders, and the public; (Section 4) Field, experimental, remote sensing, and real‐time data research and application. P&P projects can better include ICON principles by directly incorporating them into research proposals. A promising way to overcome the challenges of interdisciplinarity and integration is to foster networking, which will advance our research discipline through the application of ICON.

Efforts to date have not advanced Indigenous participation, capacity building and knowledge in Arctic environmental science in Canada because Arctic environmental science has yet to acknowledge, or truly practice decolonizing research. The expanding literature on decolonizing and Indigenous research provides guidance towards these alternative research approaches, but less has been written about how you do this in practice and the potential role for non-Indigenous research partners in supporting Inuit self-determination in research. This paper describes the decolonizing methodology of a non-Indigenous researcher partner and presents a co-developed approach, called the Sikumiut model, for Inuit and non-Indigenous researchers interested in supporting Inuit self-determination. In this model the roles of Inuit and non-Indigenous research partners were redefined, with Inuit governing the research and non-Indigenous research partners training and mentoring Inuit youth to conduct the research themselves. The Sikumiut model shows how having Inuit in decision-making positions ensured Inuit data ownership, accessibility, and control over how their Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is documented, communicated, and respected for its own scientific merit. It examines the benefits and potential to build on the existing research capacity of Inuit youth and describes the guidance and lessons learned from a non-Indigenous researcher in supporting Inuit self-determination in research.

The present work was designed to synthesize novel NaY and Ni modified NaY (Ni-NaY) zeolites for efficient removal of phenol from aqueous solution. The Ni-NaY (FAU, Si/Al = 2.56) was prepared by ion-exchange method at 873 K and pH = 5.8. The characterization of NaY and Ni-NaY was done by EDX, FTIR, ATD/TGA, BET, SEM, and XRD. Characterization results revealed that Ni-NaY showed an increased surface area and pore volume compared to NaY. The phenol adsorption reached the equilibrium within 2 h at pH = 4. A comparative study indicated that Ni-NaY exhibited a high adsorption capacity of phenol compared to NaY, with an average removal of 77.20% and 88.79% by NaY and Ni-NaY, respectively. The low coordination number of Ni cations in NaY structure and the ability of this zeolite to stabilize Ni cations in low-valence states were the main reasons for its superior adsorption performance compared with NaY. The experimental adsorption data were applied to different adsorption and kinetic models to understand the adsorption mechanism. Results indicated that the Freundlich model and pseudo-second order fited the adsorption of phenol on NaY and Ni-NaY. The phenol adsorption on NaY and Ni-NaY zeolite was mediated principally via hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl (OH) group of phenol and silanol groups of the Ni-NaY zeolite surface. Results also showed that after 5 cycles of regeneration, Ni-NaY had a removal efficiency higher than 90%, which demonstrated an excellent reproducibility of modified zeolite as an adsorbent.

In this paper, potential of alkaline activation of coconut shell ash (CSA) as binder in mortar was investigated. Coconut shells were collected and calcined at temperature ranges between 500 and 900°C at interval of 100 for 30, 60 and 90 minutes to determine optimum burning condition that produces ash of higher silica content. Chemical composition of the ashes was then determined using X-ray Florescence (XRF) technique. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) of different concentrations of 10, 12, 14 and 16 Molar (M) was used as alkaline activator, while mortar of mix ratio 1:3 was produced, while ratio of the alkali to CSA was of 0.5. Mortar prisms of size 40 mm 40 mm 160 mm were cast and cured in an oven at a temperature of 80 for 7, 28, 56, 90 and 120 days. Thereafter, flexural and compressive strengths were determined at the end of each curing ages, following standard procedures. Scanning Electron micrographs of the hydrated mortar at 120 days were obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) The results showed the oxide composition did not follow any pattern with increase in temperature but CSA produced at 800 for 1h gave the highest combined silica, alumina and ferric oxides above 70%, which is accepted as minimum value for pozzolanic materials. Both compressive and flexural strengths of the activated mortar samples were found to increase with increase in activator concentration up to 14M and decline thereafter. At 120 days, the compressive strength was 13.9 N/mm2 while the flexural strength was 6.88 N/mm2. These values were higher than the strengths recommended by Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) for load bearing blocks. It was concluded that activation of CSA with NaOH could be used as binder for non-structural use. The SEM results indicated that mortar made from 14 M had structure that was densely packed compared to other mortar samples produced from other concentrations.

In recent decades many Geomatics-based methods have been created to reconstruct and visualize objects, and these include digital photogrammetry, Lidar, remote sensing and hybrid techniques. The methods used to process such data are the result of research straddling the fields of Geomatics and Computer Vision, and employ techniques arising from approaches of analytical, geometric and statistical nature. One of the most fascinating fields of application concerns Architecture, which, moreover, has always depended on Mathematics generally and, more specifically, on Geometry. Throughout history the link between Geometry and Architecture has been strong and while architects have used mathematics to construct their buildings, geometry has always been the essential tool allowing them to choose spatial shapes which are aesthetically appropriate. Historically, mathematics and philosophy have been interrelated; many philosophers of the past were also mathematicians. The link between Philosophy and Architecture is twofold: on the one hand, philosophers have discussed what architecture is, on the other, philosophy has contributed to the development of architecture. We will deal with the ties between Architecture, Geometry and Philosophy over the centuries. Although there are artistic suggestions that go beyond time and space, and there are genial precursors, we can identify, in principle, some epochs: the ancient era, the modern era, and finally the contemporary epoch, from the crisis of positivistic sciences to globalisation.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that exposure to residential greenness is associated with positive health outcomes among urban populations. However, few studies have considered effects on adiposity development in a longitudinal setting. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the association between long-term exposure to urban residential greenness and markers of adiposity. Methods: A cohort of 5126 adults from five municipalities in Stockholm County was examined clinically at baseline (1992–1998) and follow-up (2002–2006) after on average nine years. Time-weighted average exposure to urban greenness was estimated by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 100 m, 250 m, and 500 m buffers around the residential addresses of each participant. Multiple linear and Poisson regression models were used to estimate associations between greenness and change in weight and waist circumference as well as risk of overweight, obesity and central obesity. Co-exposures to air pollution, traffic noise and distance to water were also examined. Results: In women, higher levels of residential greenness were associated with a reduced increase in waist circumference during follow-up (β = −0.11 cm/year, 95% CI −0.14; −0.08 per one interquartile range increase in NDVI) and decreased risk for central obesity (IRR = 0.88: 95% CI 0.79; 0.99) in the 500 m buffer. No associations were observed for men or with regard to weight development or the risk of developing overweight or obesity. Exposure to low NDVI levels in combination with high NOx from road traffic and transportation noise as well as long distance to water rendered statistically significant increases in waist circumference in both sexes. Conclusion: Higher long-term exposure to greenness was associated with a reduced increase in waist circumference and lower risk of central adiposity in women but not in men. In both sexes, low NDVI exposure in combination with other environmental risk factors appeared particularly harmful. Keywords: Residential greenness, NDVI, Adiposity, BMI, Waist circumference, Weight

In his last work “The Sacred Thoughts” an outstanding Russian scientist and encyclopedist Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev has explored demographic processes, acting as an economist and sociologist. The author of this article examines methodical approaches and tools, repeats and continues calculations of Mendeleev using modern data and information technologies. Comparing Mendeleev’s forecasts of the size and age structure of population of Russia with the modern statistical data, the author discusses the reasons for the “failure” of forecasts. The arsenal of modern demographic tools can be supplemented with Mendeleev’s idea on using the formula (law) of the vertical parabola in studying the age structure (the dependence between the size of the group and age).

This paper demonstrates the possibility of producing a lamellar ceramic nanocomposite at the top-most surface of oxide coatings grown with the Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation process (PEO). PEO was conducted on aluminium in a silicate-rich electrolyte under the so-called “soft” regime. Nanoscale characterisation showed that the transition from the “arcs” to the “soft” regime was concomitant with the gradual formation of a 1:1 mullite/alumina lamellar nanocomposite (≈120 nm thick) that filled the cavity of the PEO “pancake” structure. Combined with plasma diagnostic techniques, a three-step growth mechanism was proposed: (i) local melting of alumina under the PEO micro-discharges (≈3200 K at high heating rate ≈3 × 108 K·s−1); (ii) progressive silicon enrichment of the melt coming from the electrolyte; and (iii) quenching of the melt at a cooling rate of ≈3.3 × 107 K·s−1 as the micro-discharge extinguishes. Under such severe cooling conditions, the solidification process was non-equilibrium as predicted by the metastable SiO2 – Al2O3 binary phase diagram. This resulted in phase separation where pure alumina lamellae alternate periodically with 1:1 mullite lamellae. Keywords: Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO), Micro-arcs oxidation (MAO), Aluminium, Mullite, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Optical emission spectroscopy (OES)

Abstract Background International benchmarking can help identify trauma system performance issues and determine the extent to which other countries also experience these. When problems are identified, countries can look to high performers for insight into possible responses. The objective of this study was to compare the treatment and outcome of severely injured patients in Germany and Navarra, Spain. Methods Data collected, from 2010 to 2013, in the Navarra Major Trauma Registry (NMTR) and the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) were compared. Both registries followed the Utstein Trauma Template (European Core Dataset) for documentation of trauma patients. Adult patients (≥ 16 years) with New Injury Severity Score (NISS) being >15 points were included in this study. Patients who had been admitted to the hospital later than 24 h after the trauma, had been pronounced dead before hospital arrival, or had been injured by hanging, drowning or burns, were excluded. Demographic data, injury data, prehospital data, hospital treatment data, time intervals, and outcome were compared. The expected mortality was calculated using the Revised Injury Severity Classification score II (RISC II). Results A total of 646 and 43,110 patients were included in the outcome analysis from NMTR and TR-DGU, respectively. The difference between observed and expected mortality was −0.4% (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 0.97; 95% CI 0.93–1.04) in Germany and 1.6% (SMR 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02–1.14) in Navarra. Differences in the characteristics of trauma patients and trauma systems between the regions were noted. Conclusion The higher observed mortality in Navarra is consistent with the epidemiological characteristics of its population. However, to improve the quality of trauma care in the Navarra trauma system, certain improvements are necessary. There were less young adults with severe injuries in Navarra than in Germany. It is possible to compare data of severely injured patients from different countries if standardized registries are used.

Throughout history the link between geometry and architecture has been strong and while architects have used mathematics to construct their buildings, geometry has always been the essential tool allowing them to choose spatial shapes which are aesthetically appropriate. Sometimes it is geometry which drives architectural choices, but at other times it is architectural innovation which facilitates the emergence of new ideas in geometry. Among the best known types of geometry (Euclidean, projective, analytical, Topology, descriptive, fractal,…) those most frequently employed in architectural design are: – Euclidean Geometry – Projective Geometry – The non-Euclidean geometries. Entire architectural periods are linked to specific types of geometry. Euclidean geometry, for example, was the basis for architectural styles from Antiquity through to the Romanesque period. Perspective and Projective geometry, for their part, were important from the Gothic period through the Renaissance and into the Baroque and Neo-classical eras, while non-Euclidean geometries characterize modern architecture.

The Torngat Mountains National Park, northern Labrador, Canada, contains more than 120 small glaciers: the only remaining glaciers in continental northeast North America. These small cirque glaciers exist in a unique topo-climatic setting, experiencing temperate maritime summer conditions yet very cold and dry winters, and may provide insights into the deglaciation dynamics of similar small glaciers in temperate mountain settings. Due to their size and remote location, very little information exists regarding the health of these glaciers. Just a single study has been published on the contemporary glaciology of the Torngat Mountains, focusing on net mass balances from 1981 to 1984. This paper addresses the extent to which glaciologically relevant climate variables have changed in northern Labrador in concert with 20th-century Arctic warming, and how these changes have affected Torngat Mountain glaciers. Field surveys and remote-sensing analyses were used to measure regional glacier area loss of 27 % from 1950 to 2005, substantial rates of ice surface thinning (up to 6 m yr−1) and volume losses at Abraham, Hidden, and Minaret glaciers, between 2005 and 2011. Glacier mass balances appear to be controlled by variations in winter precipitation and, increasingly, by strong summer and autumn atmospheric warming since the early 1990s, though further observations are required to fully understand mass balance sensitivities. This study provides the first comprehensive contemporary assessment of Labrador glaciers and will inform both regional impact assessments and syntheses of global glacier mass balance.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the growth performance, caecal ecosystem and overall health of growing rabbits. A control diet was formulated (crude protein: 15.9%; neutral detergent fibre: 31.6%) and another diet obtained by supplementing the control diet with 1 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (6.5×109 colony-forming units) per kg of diet. Ninety 35-d old rabbits were allotted into 3 groups: TT (rabbits offered the supplemented diet from 17 d of age onwards), CT (rabbits offered supplemented diet from 35 d) and CC (rabbits fed non-supplemented diet). Body weight (BW) and feed intake were measured weekly and mortality was controlled daily. At 35, 42 and 77 d of age, 6 rabbits from each group were slaughtered and digestive physiological traits, serum clinical chemistry parameters, fermentation traits, and the composition of caecal microbiota examined. At 42 and 56 d of age, 10 rabbits from each group were injected intraperitoneally with 100 μg/animal of ovalbumin and blood samples were collected for examination of plasma immunological parameters. Throughout the experiment (5-11 wk), weight gain and feed intake (37.8 and 112.6 g/d, on av.) were not affected by yeast, except for weight gain in the first week after weaning, which was the highest in TT animals among the 3 groups (48.1 vs. 43.9 and 44.2 g/d for TT, CC and CT, respectively; P=0.012). This may be due to the increased trend in feed intake (P=0.072) in the TT group (96.4 g/d) compared to the others. Mortality (5/90) was low and did not differ among the 3 groups. Treatments had no effect on slaughter traits at the 3 sampling dates (35, 42 and 77 d). Only the weight of the empty caecum (% BW) was higher (P=0.02) in CC (2.2%) and CT (2.3%) than in TT group (1.8%) at 77 d of age. Treatments did not overtly affect the caecal microbiota, although the number of total anaerobic bacteria and Bacteroides were lower (108 and 107/g caecal digesta, respectively) in rabbits from CC group compared to those of CT and TT groups at 42 d of age (P=0.03). No difference between groups was observed for caecal short chain fatty acids profile, blood traits, or IgG and cytokine profile. In conclusion, supplementation of feed with yeast did not modify growth traits and resulted in only a temporary increase in weight gain and a slightly altered caecal microbiota after weaning.

Purpose. To study the effect of vitamins A (retinol) and B6 (pyridoxine) on aquacultural and biological parameters of young-of-the-year koi (Cyprinus carpio koi). Methodology. The study was conducted in laboratory conditions based at the Bila Tserkva experimental hydrobiological station of the Institute of Hydrobiology of NAS of Ukraine in 2015. To achieve the objectives of the research, we used morphometric analysis methods. We performed the studies of the variable-based changes of the basic morphological and biological parameters of young-of-the-year koi carp koi under similar culture conditions. To perform the work, we used four groups of young-of-the-year koi carp with mean initial weight of 1.4±0.07 grams at the age of 30 days with the same number of individuals (25 fish) in each group. One group was the control group (group 1), while three others were experimental groups, which were fed by starting compound feeds supplemented with vitamins A and B6. We examined and compared the effect of powdered water-soluble vitamin B6 with 99.0% weight content of pyridoxine hydrochloride, as well as a complex of vitamins A and B6, encapsulated in polymeric carriers on biological parameters of fingerlings of young-of-the-year koi carp. Findings. The study results showed that the addition of pyridoxine and retinol to fish feed significantly improves the survival rate of young-of-the-year koi carp by 12.0% and 16.0% respectively. We detected the general positive effect of experimental vitamin supplements, particularly of two forms of vitamin B6 on survival and weight, total body length, standard body length and the largest body height of young-of-the-year koi carp. However, for the majority of the studied parameters of fingerling weight and length, the best performance was observed when using vitamin B6, encapsulated in polymeric carriers. Originality. The aquacultural and biological parameters of young-of-the-year koi carp after feeding them with feeds supplemented with vitamin A and various chemical forms vitamin B6 have been studied for the first time. Practical value. Improvement of the survival rate and mean weight of koi carp seeds. The increase of the total body length, standard body length and the largest body height of younf-of-the-year koi carp.

Landslides are one of the major geo-hazards which have constantly affected Italy especially over the last few years. In fact 82% of the Italian territory is affected by this phenomenon which destroys the environment and often causes deaths: therefore it is necessary to monitor these effects in order to detect and prevent these risks. Nowadays, most of this type of monitoring is carried out by using traditional topographic instruments (e.g. total stations) or satellite techniques such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers. The level of accuracy obtainable with these instruments is sub-centimetrical in post-processing and centimetrical in real-time; however, the costs are very high (many thousands of euros). The rapid diffusion of GNSS networks has led to an increase of using mass-market receivers for real-time positioning. In this paper, the performances of GNSS mass-market receiver are reported with the aim of verifying if this type of sensor can be used for real-time landslide monitoring: for this purpose a special slide was used for simulating a landslide, since it enabled us to give manual displacements thanks to a micrometre screw. These experiments were also carried out by considering a specific statistical test (a modified Chow test) which enabled us to understand if there were any displacements from a statistical point of view in real time. The tests, the algorithm and results are reported in this paper.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of live yeast supplementation in the diet of rabbit does on their mortality and reproductive performance and the performance of their progeny. A total of 52 cross-bred rabbit does (New Zealand×Californian) were divided into 2 groups differing in diet offered during 2 reproductive cycles and containing (group S; n=26) or not (group C; n=26) 1 g of yeast (Actisaf Sc 47, S.I. LESAFFRE, France)/kg of feed. Natural mating was performed 11 d after kindling and kits were weaned at 28 d of age. Body weight of litters was measured at birth, 21 d and at 28 d of age (weaning). Mortality of kits and rabbit does was monitored daily, and fertility of rabbit does and viability rate of kits at birth were also determined. Weight and litter size at birth and at weaning, litter weight gain during lactation and length of gestation were similar between the 2 groups during the 2 cycles. The mortality of does during the experiment was higher in group C than in group S (27 vs. 4%; P

Various types of technology are used for Terrestrial Mobile Mapping (TMM) such as IMU, cameras, odometers, laser scanner etc., which are integrated in order to determine the attitude and the position of the vehicle in use, especially in the absence of GNSS signal i.e. in an urban canyon. The aim of this study is to use only photogrammetric measurements obtained with a low cost camera (with a reduced focal length and small frames) located on the vehicle, in order to improve the quality of TMM solution in the absence of a GNSS signal. It is essential to have good quality frames in order to solve this problem. In fact it is generally quite easy to extract a large number of common points between the frames (the so-called ‘tie points’), but this does not necessarily imply the goodness of the matching quality, which might be uncorrected due to the presence of obstacles that may occlude the camera sight. The Authors used two different methods for solving the problem of the presence of outliers: RANSAC and the Forward Search. In this article the Authors show the results obtainable with good quality frames (frames without occlusions) and under difficult conditions that simulate better reality.

The review presents an analysis of experimental and clinical studies on the neuroprotective properties of erythropoietin. The suggestion about possible participation of deficiency of erythropoietin in the development of cerebral disorders in patients with chronic renal failure. The possibility of clinical use of drugs recombinant erythropoietin to protect the brain, presents the main currently known mechanisms for the implementation of its neuroprotective potential, not connected with the influence on erythropoiesis. Stressed the need for early преддиализного monitoring functions of the сentral nervous system in nephrological patients with the purpose of timely correction of the revealed violations. Identified promising therapeutic directions for the use of erythropoietin in patients with chronic renal failure, in particular, the feasibility of early administration of small doses of the drug to prevent brain damage.

Volatile halogenated organic compounds containing bromine and iodine, which are naturally produced in the ocean, are involved in ozone depletion in both the troposphere and stratosphere. Three prominent compounds transporting large amounts of marine halogens into the atmosphere are bromoform (CHBr3), dibromomethane (CH2Br2) and methyl iodide (CH3I). The input of marine halogens to the stratosphere has been estimated from observations and modelling studies using low-resolution oceanic emission scenarios derived from top-down approaches. In order to improve emission inventory estimates, we calculate data-based high resolution global sea-to-air flux estimates of these compounds from surface observations within the HalOcAt (Halocarbons in the Ocean and Atmosphere) database (https://halocat.geomar.de/). Global maps of marine and atmospheric surface concentrations are derived from the data which are divided into coastal, shelf and open ocean regions. Considering physical and biogeochemical characteristics of ocean and atmosphere, the open ocean water and atmosphere data are classified into 21 regions. The available data are interpolated onto a 1°×1° grid while missing grid values are interpolated with latitudinal and longitudinal dependent regression techniques reflecting the compounds' distributions. With the generated surface concentration climatologies for the ocean and atmosphere, global sea-to-air concentration gradients and sea-to-air fluxes are calculated. Based on these calculations we estimate a total global flux of 1.5/2.5 Gmol Br yr−1 for CHBr3, 0.78/0.98 Gmol Br yr−1 for CH2Br2 and 1.24/1.45 Gmol Br yr−1 for CH3I (robust fit/ordinary least squares regression techniques). Contrary to recent studies, negative fluxes occur in each sea-to-air flux climatology, mainly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. "Hot spots" for global polybromomethane emissions are located in the equatorial region, whereas methyl iodide emissions are enhanced in the subtropical gyre regions. Inter-annual and seasonal variation is contained within our flux calculations for all three compounds. Compared to earlier studies, our global fluxes are at the lower end of estimates, especially for bromoform. An under-representation of coastal emissions and of extreme events in our estimate might explain the mismatch between our bottom-up emission estimate and top-down approaches.

Although diet composition has been implicated as a major factor in the etiology of various gastrointestinal diseases, conclusive evidence remains elusive. This is particularly true in diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis where breast milk as opposed to commercial formula appears to confer a "protective effect" to the "immature gut." Yet the mechanism by which this occurs continues to remain speculative. In the present study we hypothesize that the basic chemical composition of diet fundamentally selects for specific intestinal microbiota which may help explain disparate disease outcome and therapeutic direction. Complimentary animal and human studies were conducted on young piglets (21 d.)(n = 8) (IACUC protocols 08070 and 08015) and premature infants (adjusted gestational age 34-36 weeks) (n = 11) (IRB Protocol 15895A). In each study, cecal or stool contents from two groups (Breast milk-fed (BF) vs. Formulafed (FF)) were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and comprehensive metabolic profiles generated and compared. Concurrently, bacterial community structure was assayed and respective representative microbiota of the groups determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing. Statistical modeling and analysis was done using SIMCA-P+ and R software. GC/MS metabolomics identified clear differences between BF and FF groups in the intestinal environment of piglets and humans. Sugars, amino-sugars, fatty acids, especially unsaturated fatty acids, and sterols were identified as being among the most important metabolites for distinguishing between BF and FF groups. Joint analysis of microbiota and metabolomics pinpointed specific sets of metabolites (p < 0.05) associated with the dominant bacterial taxa. The chemical composition of diet appears to have a significant role in defining the microbiota of the immature gut. Tandem analysis of intestinal microbial and metabolic profiles is potentially a powerful tool leading to better understanding of the role of diet in disease perhaps even leading to specific strategies to alter microbial behavior to improve clinical outcome.Aunque se ha implicado a la composición de la dieta como un factor principal en la etiología de varias enfermedades gastrointestinales, la evidencia concluyente sigue siendo esquiva. Esto es particularmente cierto en enfermedades como la enterocolitis necrosante en la que la leche materna, en contraposición de las fórmulas comerciales, parece conferir un "efecto protector" para el "intestino inmaduro" o el ecosistema intestinal juvenil del "intestino inmaduro", si bien el mecanismo por el que esto ocurre sigue siendo una especulación. La hipótesis de nuestro estudio es que la composición química básica de la dieta selecciona fundamentalmente microbióticos intestinales específicos que pueden explicar los resultados dispares de la enfermedad y tener implicaciones terapéuticas. Se realizaron estudios adicionales en animales y humanos en lechones (21 d.) (n = 8) (protocolos IACUC 08070 y 08015) y lactantes prematuros (edad gestacional ajustada de 34-36 semanas) (n = 11) (Protocolo IRB 15895A). En cada estudio, se analizaron los contenidos cecales y fecales de ambos grupos (alimentación materna (AM) y alimentación con fórmula (AF)) mediante cromatografía de gases/espectrometría de masas (CG/EM) y se generaron y compararon perfiles metabólicos completos. De forma concurrente, se probó la estructura de la comunidad bacteriana y se determinaron los representantes micriobióticos respectivos de los grupos mediante la pirosecuenciación del ARNr 16S del amplicón. Se realizó un modelo y análisis estadístico utilizando los programas informáticos SIMCA-P+ y R. La metabolómica de CG/EM identificó diferencias claras entre los grupos AM y AF en el ambiente intestinal de los lechones y los humanos. Se encontró que los azúcares, los amino-azúcares, los ácidos grasos, especialmente los insaturados, y los esteroles estaban entre los metabolitos más importantes para distinguir entre los grupos AM y AF. El análisis conjunto de la microbiótica y de la metabolómica resaltó conjuntos específicos de metabolitos (p < 0,05) asociados con los taxones bacterianos dominantes. La composición química de la dieta parece tener un papel significativo en la definición de los microbióticos del intestino inmaduro. El análisis en tándem de los perfiles microbianos y metabólicos es, potencialmente, una herramienta poderosa que permitirá mejorar el conocimiento del papel de la dieta en la enfermedad y quizás conduzca a estrategias específicas para alterar el comportamiento microbiano mejorando el pronóstico clínico.

Corpos-de-prova de zircônia parcialmente estabilizada com ítria foram moldados por prensagem uniaxial, sinterizados e nitretados em plasma de micro-ondas à pressão atmosférica. A camada de ZrN sobre zircônia formou-se a uma taxa de 4 µm.min-1, podendo atingir uma espessura de 500 µm. As amostras foram caracterizadas por meio de medidas de dureza e resistência ao desgaste. A superfície nitretada apresentou dureza superior e resistência ao desgaste similar ao substrato de zircônia.Samples of yttria partially-stabilized zirconia were molded by uniaxial pressing, sintered and nitrided in an atmospheric pressure microwave plasma. This procedure leads to the formation of a ZrN layer whose growth rate and thickness reached 4 µm.min-1 and 500 µm, respectively. The samples were characterized by means of hardness and wear resistance tests. The nitrided surface exhibits superior hardness and wear resistance similar to that of the zirconia substrate.

A robust CFD model is described, suitable for general three-dimensional flows with extensive cavitation at large density ratios. The model utilizes a multiphase approach, based on volume-scalar-equations, a truncated Rayleigh-Plesset equation for bubble dynamics, and specific numerical modifications (in a finite-volume solution approach) to promote robust solutions when cavitation is present. The model is implemented in the CFD software CFX TASCflow 2.12. The validation of the model was done on an inducer designed and tested at LEMFI. First, The physical model and the numerical aspects are described. Then, the experimental and numerical methodologies, at cavitating regime, are presented. Finally, for several flow rates, the comparisons between experimental and simulated results on the overall performances, head drop and cavitation figures, are discussed. For a range of flow rates, good agreement between experiment and prediction was found.