Drug therapy of auricular flutter with a amiodarone digoxin combination

The urinary excretions of adrenaline and noradrenaline were determined before and after a moderate thermal trauma in rats with intact adrenal glands, after adrenal demedullation and after adrenalectomy with grafting of adrenal cortical tissue. The basal excretions of adrenaline were 0.28 mug, 0.06 mug and 0.04 mug/24 h/rat, respectively. In rats with intact adrenal glands the adrenaline excretion was greatly increased already in the first 24 hours after the burn. In both the demedullated and adrenalectomized rats only a very slight increase of the adrenaline excretion was noted, but this may indicate a slight reaction of the extramedullary chromaffin tissue to the trauma. The basal excretion of noradrenaline was not affected either by demedullation or adrenalectomy, indicating that it consisted mainly in noradrenaline released from peripheral sympathetic nerve endings. From the second day after the burn there was an increase in the noradrenaline excretion, of equal magnitude in all experimental groups, indicating an increased liberation of peripheral adrenergic transmittor substances.     

The Physiological Importance of Glucosinolates on Plant Response to Abiotic Stress in Brassica

Glucosinolates, a class of secondary metabolites, mainly found in Brassicaceae, are affected by the changing environment. This review is focusing on the physiological significance of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products in the plant response to different abiotic stresses. Special attention is paid to the crosstalk between some of the physiological processes involved in stress response and glucosinolate metabolism, with the resulting connection between both pathways in which signaling mechanisms glucosinolate may act as signals themselves. The function of glucosinolates, further than in defense switching, is discussed in terms of alleviating pathogen attack under abiotic stress. The fact that the exogenous addition of glucosinolate hydrolysis products may alleviate certain stress conditions through its effect on specific proteins is described in light of the recent reports, but the molecular mechanisms involved in this response merit further research. Finally, the transient allocation and re-distribution of glucosinolates as a response to environmental changes is summarized.     

Improved Thermal Behavior of Multiple Linked Arrays of Silicon Nanowires Integrated into Planar Thermoelectric Microgenerators

Low-dimensional structures have been shown to be promising candidates for enhancing the thermoelectric properties of semiconductors, paving the way for integration of thermoelectric generators into silicon microtechnology. With this aim, dense arrays of well-oriented and size-controlled silicon nanowires (Si NWs) obtained by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism have been implemented into microfabricated structures to develop planar unileg thermoelectric microgenerators (μTEGs). Different low-thermal-mass suspended structures have been designed and microfabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates to operate as microthermoelements using p-type Si NW arrays as the thermoelectric material. To obtain nanowire arrays with effective lengths larger than normally attained by the VLS technique, structures composed of multiple ordered arrays consecutively bridged by transversal microspacers have been fabricated. The successive linkage of multiple Si NW arrays enabled the development of larger temperature differences while preserving good electrical contact. This gives rise to small internal thermoelement resistances, enhancing the performance of the devices as energy harvesters.     

Effect of Temperature on C3S and C3S + Nanosilica Hydration and C–S–H Structure

This study aimed to monitor the effect of temperature and the addition of nanosilica on the nanostructure of the C–S–H gel forming during tricalcium silicate (C₃S) hydration. Two types of paste were prepared from a synthesized T₁ C₃S. The first consisted of a blend of deionized water and C₃S at a water/solid ratio of 0.425. In the second, a 90 wt% C₃S + 10 wt% of nanosilica blend was mixed with water at a water/solid ratio of 0.7. The pastes were stored in closed containers at 100% RH and 25°C, 40°C, or 65°C. The hydration reaction was detained after 1, 14, 28, or 62 d with acetone, and then pastes were studied by ²⁹Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (²⁹Si MAS NMR).The main conclusion was that adding nSA expedites C₃S hydration at any age or temperature and modifies the structure of the C–S–H gel formed, two types of C–S–H gel appear. At 25°C and 40°C, more orderly, longer chain gels are initially (1 d) obtained as a result of the pozzolanic reaction between nSA and portlandite (CH) (C–S–H_II gel formation). Subsequently, ongoing C₃S hydration and the concomitant flow of dimers shorten the mean chain length in the gel.     

Chemical Analysis with High Spatial Resolution by Rutherford Backscattering and Raman Confocal Spectroscopies: Surface Hierarchically Structured Glasses

Copper and iron in glasses constitute classical aims of study because of the optical effects that they produce. Structured materials are also interesting due to the incorporated functionalities derived from their spatial organization. Here, CuO and Fe₂O₃ were incorporated into a standard glass, from which glass coatings with different thicknesses were studied. Whereas iron cations dissolved in the glassy matrix, copper cations saturated it and crystallized at the surface, forming a hierarchical microstructure. The surface microstructure consisted of crystallizations of Tenorite (CuO) forming interconnected walls. The walls surrounding areas of glassy matrix gave rise to a cells microstructure. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry provided the composition of the samples with high depth resolution, and Raman Confocal Microscopy determined the phases location and their distribution forming the microstructure. The joint information from both techniques allowed high chemical and spatial resolution of the main cations location for the hierarchical surface microstructure.     

Introducing the fractional-order Darwinian PSO

One of the most well-known bio-inspired algorithms used in optimization problems is the particle swarm optimization (PSO), which basically consists on a machine-learning technique loosely inspired by birds flocking in search of food. More specifically, it consists of a number of particles that collectively move on the search space in search of the global optimum. The Darwinian particle swarm optimization (DPSO) is an evolutionary algorithm that extends the PSO using natural selection, or survival of the fittest, to enhance the ability to escape from local optima. This paper firstly presents a survey on PSO algorithms mainly focusing on the DPSO. Afterward, a method for controlling the convergence rate of the DPSO using fractional calculus (FC) concepts is proposed. The fractional-order optimization algorithm, denoted as FO-DPSO, is tested using several well-known functions, and the relationship between the fractional-order velocity and the convergence of the algorithm is observed. Moreover, experimental results show that the FO-DPSO significantly outperforms the previously presented FO-PSO.     

An empirical analysis of the impact of renewable energy deployment on local sustainability

It is usually mentioned that renewable energy sources (RES) have a large potential to contribute to the sustainable development of specific territories by providing them with a wide variety of socioeconomic benefits, including diversification of energy supply, enhanced regional and rural development opportunities, creation of a domestic industry and employment opportunities. The analysis of these benefits has usually been too general (i.e., mostly at the national level) and a focus on the regional and especially the local level has been lacking. This paper empirically analyses those benefits, by applying a conceptual and methodological framework previously developed by the authors to three renewable energy technologies in three different places in Spain. With the help of case studies, the paper shows that the contribution of RES to the economic and social dimensions of sustainable development might be significant. Particularly important is employment creation in these areas. Although, in absolute terms, the number of jobs created may not be high, it may be so with respect to the existing jobs in the areas considered. Socioeconomic benefits depend on several factors, and not only on the type of renewable energy, as has usually been mentioned. The specific socioeconomic features of the territories, including the productive structure of the area, the relationships between the stakeholders and the involvement of the local actors in the renewable energy project may play a relevant role in this regard. Furthermore, other local (socioeconomic) sustainability aspects beyond employment creation should be considered.     

Development and validation of a multicriteria indicator for the assessment of objective aesthetic impact of wind farms

Wind energy represents one of the most important renewable resources. However, despite the fact that wind farms are represented as environmentally friendly projects, they frequently encounter public resistance. One of the main criticisms of wind farm construction projects is directed at their poor aesthetic integration into the landscape. This work develops an indicator to assess the magnitude of the objective aesthetic impact on the landscape caused by the installation of the wind farm. The indicator combines measures of visibility, colour, fractality and continuity which can be taken from photographs. Value functions are constructed for each variable and incorporated into the indicator. This indicator has been used to calculate the objective aesthetic impact of five wind farms. Comparison of the indicator results with a population survey shows that the indicator correctly represents the order of impact as perceived by the population sample, and is thus an appropriate objective measure of aesthetic impact of wind farms.     

Preliminary steps toward assessing aerosol retention in the break stage of a dry steam generator during severe accident SGTR sequences

Severe accidents SGTR sequences are identified as major contributors to risk of PWRs. Their relevance lies in the potential radioactive release from reactor coolant system to the environment. Lack of knowledge on the source term attenuation capability of the steam generator has avoided its consideration in probabilistic safety studies and severe accident management guidelines. This paper describes a research program presently under way on the aerosol retention on the tubes surrounding the breach within the secondary side of the steam generator in the absence of water. Its development has been internationally framed within the EU-SGTR and the ARTIST program. Experimental activities are focused on setting up a reliable database in which the influence of gas mass flow rate, breach configuration and particle nature in the aerosol retention are properly considered. Theoretical activities are aimed at developing a predictive tool (ARISG) capable of assessing source term attenuation in the scenario with reasonable accuracy. Given the major importance of jet aerodynamics, 3D CFD analyses are being conducted to assist both test interpretation and model development.     

Uncertainties in the SPRT Subranges of ITS-90: Topics for Further Research

The CCT has completed the guide summarizing the uncertainties in the realization of the SPRT subranges of ITS-90 between the triple point of neon (24.5561 K) and the freezing point of silver (961.78 °C). This article identifies aspects of standard platinum resistance thermometry where either data or models are lacking and further research is required. In the calibration of SPRTs, the two main concerns are the need for data on liquidus slopes for the different impurities in the fixed points and improved understanding of the impact of the thermal environment of the fixed point on the realized temperature. In the use of SPRTs, the two largest sources of uncertainty are Types 1 and 3 non-uniqueness and oxidation. The causes of Type 3 non-uniqueness are not yet understood, especially at low temperatures, and there is a paucity of data for the high-temperature subranges. In respect of oxidation, there is a need for validation of the models developed in the 1980s, especially in light of the reduced partial pressure of oxygen used in modern SPRTs. A range of other effects including vacancy effects in SPRTs, isotopic effects in fixed points, and improved statistical methods are discussed.