Tapped granular packings described as complex networks

We characterize the structure of simulated two-dimensional granular packings using concepts from complex networks theory. The packings are generated by a simulated tapping protocol, which allows us to obtain states in mechanical equilibrium in a wide range of densities. We show that our characterization method is able to discriminate non-equivalent states that have the same density. We do this by examining differences in the topological structure of the contact network of the packings. In particular, we find that the polygons of the network are specially sensitive probes for the contact structure. Additionally, we compare the network properties obtained in two different scenarios: the tapped and a compressed system

Contact network topology in tapped granular media

We analyze the contact network of simulated two-dimensional granular packings in different states of mechanical equilibrium obtained by tapping. We show that topological descriptors of the contact network allow one to distinguish steady states of the same mean density obtained with different tap intensities. These equal-density states were recently proven to be distinguishable through the mean force moment tensor. In contrast, geometrical descriptors, such as radial distribution functions, bond order parameters, and Voronoi cell distributions, can hardly discriminate among these states. We find that small-order loops of contacts—the polygons of the network—are especially sensitive probes for the contact structure

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do arroz: XIV. efeitos dos excessos de Al, Cl e Mn nas variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47

Rice plants were grown either in full strength nº 2 solution of HOAGLAND & ARNON (1950) or in the same with high levels of Al, Cl and Mn (25, 1750 and 25 ppm, respectively). Plants with excess of each element did not complete the reproductive phase of development. Symptoms of toxicity appeared in response to the high levels supplied in the substrate. Dry matter production was relatively more affected in the case of the variety IAC-47. On the other hand, both varieties were more sensitive to Mn toxicity than to Al excess. The leaves had the following levels of the elements under the respective treatments, respectively for the variety IAC-25 and for the variety IAC-47; Al-107 and 221 ppm; Cl-87,500 and 17,500 (lower and upper leaves), 44,125 and 16,250 (lower and upper leaves); Mn - 1,670 and 1,769. The Al content of the roots was 5,639 and 5,872 ppm. Al toxicity decreased P content in all plant parts.Plantas de arroz, variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47 foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva completa e com excesso de Al, Cl e Mn (25, 1750 e 25 ppm, respectivamente). As últimas não completaram o ciclo. Foram observados sintomas típicos de toxidez. A produção de matéria seca foi mais afetada pelos tratamentos na variedade IAC-47. Ambas as variedades mostraram-se mais sensíveis a toxidez de Mn que à de Al. Foram determinados os teores foliares de Al, Cl e Mn associados à toxidez correspondente

Quasielastic axial-vector mass from experiments on neutrino-nucleus scattering

We analyze available experimental data on the total and differential charged-current cross sections for quasielastic neutrino and antineutrino scattering off nucleons, measured with a variety of nuclear targets in the accelerator experiments at ANL, BNL, FNAL, CERN, and IHEP, dating from the end of sixties to the present day. The data are used to adjust the poorly known value of the axial-vector mass of the nucleon.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figures. Typos corrected; tables, figures and references added, discussion extended; matches published versio

State of the climate in 2013

In 2013, the vast majority of the monitored climate variables reported here maintained trends established in recent decades. ENSO was in a neutral state during the entire year, remaining mostly on the cool side of neutral with modest impacts on regional weather patterns around the world. This follows several years dominated by the effects of either La Niña or El Niño events. According to several independent analyses, 2013 was again among the 10 warmest years on record at the global scale, both at the Earths surface and through the troposphere. Some regions in the Southern Hemisphere had record or near-record high temperatures for the year. Australia observed its hottest year on record, while Argentina and New Zealand reported their second and third hottest years, respectively. In Antarctica, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station reported its highest annual temperature since records began in 1957. At the opposite pole, the Arctic observed its seventh warmest year since records began in the early 20th century. At 20-m depth, record high temperatures were measured at some permafrost stations on the North Slope of Alaska and in the Brooks Range. In the Northern Hemisphere extratropics, anomalous meridional atmospheric circulation occurred throughout much of the year, leading to marked regional extremes of both temperature and precipitation. Cold temperature anomalies during winter across Eurasia were followed by warm spring temperature anomalies, which were linked to a new record low Eurasian snow cover extent in May. Minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic was the sixth lowest since satellite observations began in 1979. Including 2013, all seven lowest extents on record have occurred in the past seven years. Antarctica, on the other hand, had above-average sea ice extent throughout 2013, with 116 days of new daily high extent records, including a new daily maximum sea ice area of 19.57 million km2 reached on 1 October. ENSO-neutral conditions in the eastern central Pacific Ocean and a negative Pacific decadal oscillation pattern in the North Pacific had the largest impacts on the global sea surface temperature in 2013. The North Pacific reached a historic high temperature in 2013 and on balance the globally-averaged sea surface temperature was among the 10 highest on record. Overall, the salt content in nearsurface ocean waters increased while in intermediate waters it decreased. Global mean sea level continued to rise during 2013, on pace with a trend of 3.2 mm yr-1 over the past two decades. A portion of this trend (0.5 mm yr-1) has been attributed to natural variability associated with the Pacific decadal oscillation as well as to ongoing contributions from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets and ocean warming. Global tropical cyclone frequency during 2013 was slightly above average with a total of 94 storms, although the North Atlantic Basin had its quietest hurricane season since 1994. In the Western North Pacific Basin, Super Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest tropical cyclone of 2013, had 1-minute sustained winds estimated to be 170 kt (87.5 m s-1) on 7 November, the highest wind speed ever assigned to a tropical cyclone. High storm surge was also associated with Haiyan as it made landfall over the central Philippines, an area where sea level is currently at historic highs, increasing by 200 mm since 1970. In the atmosphere, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide all continued to increase in 2013. As in previous years, each of these major greenhouse gases once again reached historic high concentrations. In the Arctic, carbon dioxide and methane increased at the same rate as the global increase. These increases are likely due to export from lower latitudes rather than a consequence of increases in Arctic sources, such as thawing permafrost. At Mauna Loa, Hawaii, for the first time since measurements began in 1958, the daily average mixing ratio of carbon dioxide exceeded 400 ppm on 9 May. The state of these variables, along with dozens of others, and the 2013 climate conditions of regions around the world are discussed in further detail in this 24th edition of the State of the Climate series. © 2014, American Meteorological Society. All rights reserved

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Inotrópicos en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardiovascular: estudio de corte transversal

Introducción: Los inotrópicos, fármacos de uso frecuente en la unidad de cuidado intensivo, se emplean con el fin de mantener la perfusión tisular en los diferentes estados de choque mientras se resuelve la etiología del mismo. Los pacientes programados para cirugía cardiovascular son un subgrupo que con frecuencia requiere tratamiento con estos fármacos en el postoperatorio. Objetivo: Describir la frecuencia y el tipo de fármacos usados para el soporte hemodinámico de pacientes en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardiovascular electiva en la Clínica Fundadores, Bogotá, DC. Métodos: Estudio de corte trasversal, en el que se incluyeron todos los pacientes que ingresaron en la unidad de cuidado intensivo sin requerimiento de soporte hemodinámico farmacológico entre octubre de 2010 y diciembre de 2011 en postoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca. Se extrajeron de las historias clínicas electrónicas la edad, el sexo, el puntaje EuroSCORE, el diagnóstico prequirúrgico, el uso de circulación extracorpórea, el uso de fármacos vasoactivos, los días de estancia en la unidad de cuidado intensivo y la mortalidad. Resultados: Se encontraron 150 registros de cirugía cardiovascular con una edad media de 62,8 años (DE 10,5), de los cuales 97 (64,6%) eran hombres. Se encontraron 22 (15%) casos con EuroSCORE en riesgo alto, 93 (62%) en riesgo moderado y 35 (23%) en riesgo bajo. Los diagnósticos prequirúrgicos incluyeron enfermedad coronaria en 105 (70%) pacientes, valvulopatías en 29 (19%), cardiopatía isquémica y valvular en 9 (6%) y comunicación interauricular en 6 (4%). En 57 (38%) casos se empleó circulación extracorpórea con un tiempo medio (RIQ) de 92 (73-114) minutos, de quienes 55 se operaron con clamp aórtico, con un tiempo medio (RIQ) de 75 (52-90) minutos. En 78 (52%) pacientes se utilizó uno o más fármacos vasoactivos, siendo la adrenalina el de mayor frecuencia en 41 (27%) casos. Los pacientes que necesitaron inodilatadores fueron 22 (15%) y recibieron dobutamina. La mediana (RIQ) de estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos fue de 3 (2-4) días y murieron 6 (4,7%) pacientes. Conclusión: En casi la mitad de los pacientes en postoperatorio de cirugía cardiovascular se utilizó un agente inotrópico, de los cuales la adrenalina fue la más frecuente, seguida de la norepinefrina; el inodilatador utilizado fue la dobutamina. No se utilizaron inotrópicos sensibilizadores del calcio y en baja frecuencia inhibidores de la fosfodiesterasa III con resultados similares en cuanto a estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos y mortalidad respecto a estudios en otras poblaciones

Contact network topology in tapped granular media

We analyze the contact network of simulated two-dimensional granular packings in different states of mechanical equilibrium obtained by tapping. We show that topological descriptors of the contact network allow one to distinguish steady states of the same mean density obtained with different tap intensities. These equal-density states were recently proven to be distinguishable through the mean force moment tensor. In contrast, geometrical descriptors, such as radial distribution functions, bond order parameters, and Voronoi cell distributions, can hardly discriminate among these states. We find that small-order loops of contacts—the polygons of the network—are especially sensitive probes for the contact structure

Tapped granular packings described as complex networks

We characterize the structure of simulated two-dimensional granular packings using concepts from complex networks theory. The packings are generated by a simulated tapping protocol, which allows us to obtain states in mechanical equilibrium in a wide range of densities. We show that our characterization method is able to discriminate non-equivalent states that have the same density. We do this by examining differences in the topological structure of the contact network of the packings. In particular, we find that the polygons of the network are specially sensitive probes for the contact structure. Additionally, we compare the network properties obtained in two different scenarios: the tapped and a compressed system