Relations between economic wealth,ecological footprint,and environmental protection depend on climatic demands

It is an incomplete story that richer societies have larger ecological footprints and are more inclined toward environmental protection. Our 116-nation study shows that all countries, but especially richer countries, have larger ecological footprints under more demanding thermal climates. Further, business executives’ ratings of the prevalence of environmental regulations and practices in their country are lowest in poor countries with demanding thermal climates (Armenia, Mongolia), moderate in poor and rich countries with undemanding climates (Mauritius, Nigeria), and highest in rich countries with demanding thermal climates (Canada, Finland). The same holds for efforts to respond to ‘green’ consumer demands. Explanations are sought in livability appraisals and behavioural adaptations to climato-economic environments. Some speculation is offered about the future management of national ecosystems.     

Creation of stepwise concentration gradient in picoliter droplets for parallel reactions of matrix metalloproteinase II and IX

We present a new methodology for generating a stepwise concentration gradient in a series of microdroplets by using monolithic micro valves that act as "faucets" in micrometer-scale. A distinct concentration gradient of a substrate was generated for the determination of the kinetic parameters of two different enzymes using only 10 picoliter-scale droplets. With a single experiment on a chip, we obtained K(M) and k(cat) values of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and compared the catalytic competence of the two enzymes. The present system and method are highly suitable for applications where the reagents or samples are limited and precious.     

Log-scale dose response of inhibitors on a chip

We demonstrate the accommodation of log-scale concentration gradients of inhibitors on a single microfluidic chip with a semidirect dilution capability of reagents for the determination of the half-inhibitory concentration or IC(50). The chip provides a unique tool for hosting a wide-range of concentration gradient for studies that require an equal distribution of measuring points on a logarithmic scale. Using Matrix metalloproteinase IX and three of its inhibitors, marimastat, batimastat, and CP471474, we evaluated the IC(50) of each inhibitor with a single experiment. The present work could be applied to the systematic study of biochemical binding and inhibition processes particularly in the field of mechanistic enzymology and the pharmaceutical industry.     

The merging of two gaseous bubbles with an application to underwater explosions

A numerical study of two gaseous bubbles merging into a single coalesced bubble as in underwater explosions is investigated in this paper. This explosive phenomenon is modeled using a boundary integral method. Two configurations, which are in-phase and out-of-phase explosions, are simulated and compared with available experimental results. The thickness of the liquid film between the two bubbles determines our coalescence criterion. Bubble shapes and periods of oscillation are predicted well, compared to those of the experiments.     

Searching? Or actually trying to find something? – The comforts of searching versus the challenges of finding

Every information professional has a unique way of conducting searches depending on his or her mindset. At one end of the spectrum there are those professionals that focus on the process of searching; At the other end there are those that focus on the objective of finding. This may seem to be a trivial distinction, as the process of searching should naturally be directed at finding relevant documents. However, this article illustrates that these different mindsets are in fact real and that they have a significant effect on the way searches are being conducted.Information professionals focussing on the process of searching enjoy the relative comfort of structure provided by the use of guidelines and checklists whereas professionals focussing on the objective of finding are willing to treat each search as a unique puzzle that requires a unique solution not bounded by guidelines or instructions.In this article the merits of both mindsets are discussed.The article is based on the author’s experience in the engineering field. Therefore some of the arguments set forth may be less relevant in for instance the chemical or biotechnology fields.     

Effect of dietary forage:grain ratio on blood constituents in dairy cows

Forty-nine primiparous and 44 multiparous lactating Holstein cows were used to study the effect of five dietary forage: grain ratios on blood constituents. Blood samples were collected in wk 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 of lactation and were analyzed for glucose, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and FFA. Increasing the percentage of forage in the diet decreased blood glucose concentration. Glucose levels were low at the beginning of lactation and increased as DMI increased. Increasing percentage of forage in the diet did not affect blood urea concentration. Increasing forage in the diet from 38.2 to 98.2% increased beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations threefold during the first 4 wk of lactation in both primiparous and multiparous cows. The concentration of plasma FFA was higher in all the treatments at the beginning of lactation and decreased as lactation advanced. Dietary forage:grain ratio did not affect plasma FFA.     

Preface

Sensing and Imaging -     

Konjugierte (symmetrische) Koppelkurven erzeugt von Gelenkvierecken mit gleichem Übertragungswinkel

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der schon im vorigen Jahrhundert gefundenen Fokaleigenschaften des Gelenkvierecks gelingt es, je vier unterschiedliche, jedoch symmetrische Koppelkurven einander zuzuordnen. Aus historischen Gründen nennen wir sie einander konjugiert. Auch vier solche konjugierte Kurven erzeugende Gelenkvierecke gleichen Typs hei?en dann einander konjugiert. Je zwei einander konjugierte Gelenkvierecke bilden eine übergeschlossene Kette unter Einführung von einem Verbindungsstab zwischen den zwei konjugierten Koppelpunkten, wenn entweder die einander konjugierten Koppeln oder sonst die zwei einander konjugierten Kurbeln in jeder Stellung gleiche Winkelgeschwindigkeiten durchlaufen. Au?er mit dieser getrieblichen und übergeschlossenen Kupplung zwischen den vier konjugierten Gelenkvierecken sind solche Gelenkvierecke auch zu bestimmen, wenn man die übertragungswinkel, die der inneren und der ?u?eren Steglage angeh?ren, miteinander vertauscht und darüber hinaus eventuelle auch noch das Vorzeichen des übertragungswinkels für die beiden Steglagen ?ndert. Der übertragungswinkel μ als Funktion des Kurbelwinkels φ wird damit bei jedem Umlauf entweder um einen Phasenwinkel Δφ=π verschoben, oder er ?ndert sein Vorzeichen. Phasenverschiebung und Zeichen?nderung im Wechsel führt dann zum vierten Gelenkviereck dieser Familiengruppe.