Adjustable high emittance gap filler

A flexible, adjustable refractory filler is disclosed for filling gaps between ceramic tiles forming the heat shield of a space shuttle vehicle, to protect its aluminum skin during atmospheric reentry. The easily installed and replaced filler consists essentially of a strip of ceramic cloth coated, at least along both its longitudinal edges with a room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber compound with a high emittance colored pigment. The filler may have one or more layers as the gap width requires. Preferred materials are basket weave aluminoborosilicate cloth, and a rubber compounded with silicon tetraboride as the emittance agent and finely divided borosilicate glass containing about 7.5% B2O3 as high temperature binder. The filler cloth strip or tape is cut to proper width and length, inserted into the gap, and fastened with previously applied drops of silicone rubber adhesive

Perceived Problems and Prospects on Acceptability of Industrial Waste Sludge As An Alternative Component for Bricks Making

This paper shows the perceived problems that the manufacturers might encounter in producing bricks using industrial waste sludge as an alternative component. These include the mechanical, thermal, and physical problems. The above-mentioned issues are directly and/ or indirectly affect the acceptability of the bricks in the said manufacturing companies. And each owners or prospects have different view on those factors, whether it is acceptable or not in their standard. Those issues will lead to the conservative way of producing bricks using industrial waste sludge as an alternative component that will be used in home construction, as in wall decoration, roofing, and even flooring. For its approach, the research used descriptive research methods including document analysis as well as statistical analysis of all the data gathered. For the population of the study, the research used random sampling technique in identifying the respondents of the study. These respondents are engineers, managers and experts in the production and selling of commercial bricks

On the monophyly of Macrolobium Schreb., an ecologically diverse neotropical tree genus (Fabaceae-Detarioideae)

Premise of research. The Neotropical endemic Macrolobium is one of the most species-rich genera (ca. 75 species) within subfamily Detarioideae (Fabaceae, alternatively Leguminosae). Two sections distinguished by floral morphology have been recognized in the past. Although morphologically diverse, species within the genus share several characters, including a single well-developed petal in adaxial position. However, previous analyses based on plastid markers have suggested that the genus is not monophyletic. We produce the most densely sampled molecular phylogeny of Macrolobium and test the monophyly of the genus and the two sections. Methodology. We analyzed nucleotide sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid (matK, trnG) genomes using Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses. Pivotal results. The combined analysis retains Macrolobium as a monophyletic genus, with two well-supported subclades corresponding to the two recognized sections. Macrolobium pendulum is the only species placed in a section different from its taxonomic treatment. The relationships recovered with the plastid markers differ slightly from the combined and ITS analyses, but without significant support. Conclusions. Macrolobium is shown to be a monophyletic genus and to contain two well-supported and morphologically defined sections with differing Amazonian and Andean/Central American distributions corresponding to the Gentry pattern. Species are also found to group partly according to habitat preferences and leaf morphology. Both sections contain groups of multijugate and unijugate species, and there appear to have been multiple shifts of this character

8.2 ka event North Sea hydrography determined by bivalve shell stable isotope geochemistry

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordThe abrupt 8.2 ka cold event has been widely described from Greenland and North Atlantic records. However, its expression in shelf seas is poorly documented, and the temporal resolution of most marine records is inadequate to precisely determine the chronology of major events. A robust hydrographical reconstruction can provide an insight on climatic reaction times to perturbations to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Here we present an annually-resolved temperature and water column stratification reconstruction based on stable isotope geochemistry of Arctica islandica shells from the Fladen Ground (northern North Sea) temporally coherent with Greenland ice core records. Our age model is based on a growth increment chronology obtained from four radiometrically-dated shells covering the 8290–8100 cal BP interval. Our results indicate that a sudden sea level rise (SSLR) event-driven column stratification occurred between ages 8320–8220 cal BP. Thirty years later, cold conditions inhibited water column stratification but an eventual incursion of sub-Arctic waters into the North Sea re-established density-driven stratification. The water temperatures reached their minimum of ~3.7 °C 55 years after the SSLR. Intermittently-mixed conditions were later established when the sub-Arctic waters receded.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)European Union FP

Proyecto de negocios como expresión del poder personal. Taller con emprendedores llevado a cabo en Tlaquepaque entre septiembre y noviembre de 2016

Entre septiembre y noviembre de 2016 se llevó a cabo el taller “Proyecto de negocios como expresión del poder personal”; participaron 17 emprendedores con una idea de negocio que estaban a punto de arrancar operación o recién lo habían hecho. La población fue diversa, pues incluyó hombres y mujeres, con un rango de edad entre 23 y 47 años, pertenecientes a niveles socioeconómicos distintos y último grado de estudio diverso. El propósito del taller fue que los participantes desarrollasen herramientas para construir un proyecto de negocios que fuera congruente con sus intereses y motivaciones personales, en beneficio propio y de su comunidad. El taller fue diseñado según los atributos del Enfoque Centrado en la Persona. El análisis de los resultados se llevó a cabo con la metodología de análisis del discurso y se establecieron categorías para estudiar las intervenciones de los participantes y de la facilitadora. Uno de los principales descubrimientos fue que los proyectos de negocio de los emprendedores estuvieron estrechamente ligados a su identidad. De hecho, su decisión de emprender, iba más allá de buscar un medio de proveer económicamente, y fue más bien descrita como una actividad para involucrarse con sus familias, inspirar a sus hijos y generar mejores condiciones para sus empleados y clientes. Por otro lado, uno de los logros, promovidos a través del taller, fue que, al término del mismo, los emprendedores hicieron aportaciones que reflejaron mayor determinación de continuar con sus proyectos

Proper motions of the HH1 jet

We describe a new method for determining proper motions of extended objects, and a pipeline developed for the application of this method. We then apply this method to an analysis of four epochs of [S~II] HST images of the HH~1 jet (covering a period of $\sim 20$~yr). We determine the proper motions of the knots along the jet, and make a reconstruction of the past ejection velocity time-variability (assuming ballistic knot motions). This reconstruction shows an "acceleration" of the ejection velocities of the jet knots, with higher velocities at more recent times. This acceleration will result in an eventual merging of the knots in $\sim 450$~yr and at a distance of $\sim 80"$ from the outflow source, close to the present-day position of HH~1.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure

The epidemiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in rural East Africa: A population-based study.

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) may be common among individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa due to the confluence of CKD risk factors and genetic predisposition.MethodsWe ascertained the prevalence of CKD and its risk factors among a sample of 3,686 participants of a population-based HIV trial in rural Uganda and Kenya. Prevalent CKD was defined as a serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73m2 or proteinuria (urine dipstick ≥1+). We used inverse-weighting to estimate the population prevalence of CKD, and multivariable log-link Poisson models to assess the associations of potential risk factors with CKD.ResultsThe estimated CKD prevalence was 6.8% (95% CI 5.7-8.1%) overall and varied by region, being 12.5% (10.1-15.4%) in eastern Uganda, 3.9% (2.2-6.8%) in southwestern Uganda and 3.7% (2.7-5.1%) in western Kenya. Risk factors associated with greater CKD prevalence included age ≥60 years (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 3.5 [95% CI 1.9-6.5] compared with age 18-29 years), HIV infection (aPR 1.6 [1.1-2.2]), and residence in eastern Uganda (aPR 3.9 [2.6-5.9]). However, two-thirds of individuals with CKD did not have HIV, diabetes, or hypertension as risk factors. Furthermore, we noted many individuals who did not have proteinuria had dipstick positive leukocyturia or hematuria.ConclusionThe prevalence of CKD is appreciable in rural East Africa and there are considerable regional differences. Conventional risk factors appear to only explain a minority of cases, and leukocyturia and hematuria were common, highlighting the need for further research into understanding the nature of CKD in sub-Saharan Africa