相思木浆用于文化用纸生产时的滤水性能和留着性能

对来自印度尼西亚的相思木 (Acacia)浆与混合阔叶木浆和来自北欧的桦木浆进行对比分析 ,以期获得用于文化用纸生产时湿部的潜在滤水、留着性能及相关的手抄片性能 ,这些性能比较均基于恒定的抗张强度水平。相思木浆被证明拥有在文化用纸生产中至关重要的光散射能力、湿部成形和填料留着能力方面的优越性。需要改进的地方是 :它的滤水速率和湿纸幅强度较低 ,这些将是现代高速纸机湿部的瓶颈所在。相比之下 ,桦木浆具有较快的滤水速率和较高的湿部固含量 ,但其留着性能还有待改进     

Distributed uplink scheduling and rate control in cdma2000 using adaptive antenna arrays

Distributed uplink scheduling and rate control in CDMA networks are considered in the case of adaptive antenna arrays present at the base station. The system model with omnidirectional antennas is generalized to the case where adaptive antenna arrays are deployed. Rate control in a probabilistic manner is investigated. Long-term control by the base station through token bucket constraints is incorporated in the system. Monte Carlo simulation results show considerable improvement when adaptive antenna arrays are used. Optimization of the rate transition probabilities is treated in the special case of on–off scheduling.     

The effect of daily-activity patterns on crash involvement

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of daily-activity and travel patterns on the risk of crash involvement. To this end, we develop a model that integrates daily-activity and travel choices in a single framework, recognizing that these variables affect the risk of crashes. This model can therefore provide predictions of the expected changes in risk levels from the implementation of measures that affect the daily-activity patterns and the socio-economic characteristics of the population.The empirical analysis makes use of data collected during a household survey that includes crash information and trip diaries. The model is applied in a case study of an Arab town in Israel to analyze various transportation policies. The results of this research show that in addition to individuals’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics, their daily-activity and travel patterns also have an impact on the risk of being involved in car crashes. The case study showed the potential of this framework for analyzing the effect of various social and transportation policies on road safety. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such relationships have been tested by using a disaggregate model and the first time activity-based models have been used to analyze exposure to the risk of road crashes.     

Mind-body skills groups for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms in Palestinian children and adolescents in Gaza.

A mind-body skills group program was evaluated to determine its effects on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and on hopelessness in children and adolescents in Gaza. The 10-session mind-body skills groups included meditation, guided imagery, breathing techniques, autogenic training, biofeedback, genograms, and self-expression through words, drawings, and movement. Data were analyzed from 129 children and adolescents meeting criteria for PTSD. Significant improvements in PTSD and depression symptoms and a significant decrease in a sense of hopelessness were observed immediately following participation in the program. At 7-month follow-up, the improvements in the total PTSD and depression scores were largely maintained and the decreased sense of hopelessness was fully maintained despite ongoing violent conflict and economic hardship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quantum states engineering: Recurrence formula including states with even and odd numbers of photons

Abstract

A previous recurrence formula using the resonant atom-field interaction for the generation of a field state in a cavity is extended to arbitrary states having even and odd numbers of photons in their photon-number distribution.     

High-density automotive hydrogen storage with cryogenic capable pressure vessels

LLNL is developing cryogenic capable pressure vessels with thermal endurance 5–10 times greater than conventional liquid hydrogen (LH₂) tanks that can eliminate evaporative losses in routine usage of (L)H₂ automobiles. In a joint effort BMW is working on a proof of concept for a first automotive cryo-compressed hydrogen storage system that can fulfill automotive requirements on system performance, life cycle, safety and cost. Cryogenic pressure vessels can be fueled with ambient temperature compressed gaseous hydrogen (CGH₂), LH₂ or cryogenic hydrogen at elevated supercritical pressure (cryo-compressed hydrogen, CcH₂). When filled with LH₂ or CcH₂, these vessels contain 2–3 times more fuel than conventional ambient temperature compressed H₂ vessels. LLNL has demonstrated fueling with LH₂ onboard two vehicles. The generation 2 vessel, installed onboard an H₂-powered Toyota Prius and fueled with LH₂ demonstrated the longest unrefueled driving distance and the longest cryogenic H₂ hold time without evaporative losses. A third generation vessel will be installed, reducing weight and volume by minimizing insulation thickness while still providing acceptable thermal endurance. Based on its long experience with cryogenic hydrogen storage, BMW has developed its cryo-compressed hydrogen storage concept, which is now undergoing a thorough system and component validation to prove compliance with automotive requirements before it can be demonstrated in a BMW test vehicle.     

An alpha-tectorin gene defect causes a newly identified autosomal recessive form of sensorineural pre-lingual non-syndromic deafness, DFNB21

In our efforts to identify new loci responsible for non-syndromic autosomal recessive forms of deafness, DFNB loci, we have pursued the analysis of large consanguineous affected families living in geographically isolated areas. Here, we report on the study of a Lebanese family comprising nine members presenting with a pre-lingual severe to profound sensorineural isolated form of deafness. Linkage analysis led to the characterization of a new locus, DFNB21, which was assigned to chromosome 11q23-25. Already mapped to this chromosomal region was TECTA. This gene encodes alpha-tectorin, a 2155 amino acid protein which is a component of the tectorial membrane. This gene recently has been shown to be responsible for a dominant form of deafness, DFNA8/12. Sequence analysis of the TECTA gene in the DFNB21-affected family revealed a G to A transition in the donor splice site (GT) of intron 9, predicted to lead to a truncated protein of 971 amino acids. This establishes that alpha-tectorin mutations can be responsible for both dominant and recessive forms of deafness. Comparison of the phenotype of the DFNB21 heterozygous carriers with that of DFNA8/12-affected individuals supports the hypothesis that the TECTA mutations which cause the dominant form of deafness have a dominant-negative effect. The present results provide genetic evidence for alpha-tectorin forming homo- or heteromeric structures.     

Water and the CGIAR: A Strategic Framework

Abstract

Among the many institutions addressing development issues at the international level, the 16 research centers of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) focus on the goal of reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition by sustainably increasing productivity of resources in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The CGIAR has certain comparative advantages in carrying work in water at the various scales, from the farm up to global, that should be offered to the international community. This discussion paper addresses the question: what are the major water issues relevant to the CGIAR goal? The paper also presents a justification of the research needs and opportunities as well as some initial ideas for the development of a specific research agenda on each area. While other international organizations are very active in many international initiatives, the CGIAR is one of the few that could contribute much needed research information in many world areas. The CGIAR must focus more on water in relation to the plight of the poor in particular. There is a need to increase the adaptive capacity of the poor, and to manage the water supply and quality constraints. This could be achieved by focusing at the community level and by developing inexpensive, easy to use monitoring tools that would alert the communities of forthcoming problems and provide them with means to take remedial action. This action is often needed long before there is any hope of changes in policy and other macro-level interventions. The fundamental issue of water as a food requires that attention be given to the quantity and quality of water available for domestic use in poor households and communities. Health issues associated with domestic supply and with irrigation management have been important research themes in the CGIAR and demand increasing attention. Given the current composition, activitiesm and comparative advantages of the CGIAR, it is proposed that research on water management should focus on the following four broad general areas: (1) improving the efficiency of water use in agriculture through increased water productivity; (2) management of watersheds for multiple functions; (3) management of aquatic ecosystems, in particular those sharing boundaries with terrestrial ecosystems; and (4) policy and institutional aspects of water management. As the aim of water management research is to address water constraints and issues in an integrated manner, the four areas cannot be treated in isolation from each other. There is thus a need for the fifth area for achieving integration at and across different scales.     

Keratinocyte differentiation is stimulated by activators of the nuclear hormone receptor PPARalpha

BACKGROUND: A patient's likelihood of dying from breast cancer or another cause can be assessed with competing risks analyses. METHODS: Data for a cohort of 678 patients with primary invasive breast cancer accrued from 1971 to 1990, updated to 1995, included cause of death (e.g., breast cancer vs. other cause). We investigated the effects of age, tumor size, nodal status, ER, PgR, and adjuvant therapy (hormones, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) on type of death and time to death for patients of all ages and for those over the age of 65 years. RESULTS: Although there were no significant univariate differences in breast cancer death rates by age group (P=0.94), more patients over the age of 65 years died from other causes (41/207 [20%] of those older than 65 years vs. 16/471 [3%] of those younger than 65 years; P <.001). In competing risks analyses, older age was associated with non-breast cancer death, whereas larger tumor size was associated with breast cancer death. PgR was positively, and nodal status negatively, associated with survival, regardless of type. In the older patient group, the competing risks analyses identified similar effects for age and tumor size; in addition, higher ER assay values were less likely to be associated with breast cancer death. CONCLUSIONS: With increased lifespan, there will be more breast cancer cases in women older than 65 years; we have shown that women in this group have more non-breast cancer deaths. It becomes important, then, to delineate differential effects of prognostic factors on competing causes of death.