Electronic control/display interface technology

An effort to produce a representative workstation for the Space Station Data Management Test Bed that provides man/machine interface design options for consolidating, automating, and integrating the space station work station, and hardware/software technology demonstrations of space station applications is discussed. The workstation will emphasize the technologies of advanced graphics engines, advanced display/control medias, image management techniques, multifunction controls, and video disk utilizations

A novel high-throughput analytical method to quantify microplastics in water by flow cytometry

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive contaminants with unclear toxicological impacts. Current research on MP pollution relies on low-throughput methodologies, which are time-consuming and cannot directly measure MP concentration in suspensions. This study presents a qualitative and quantitative flow cytometry-based method for analysing MPs in water, offering a faster and more sustainable alternative. The method involves density separation to remove interfering particles, UV irradiation to eliminate microorganisms, and filtration to remove particles above 100 µm. The sensitivity of the method for different types of MPs, such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyamide (PA) microbeads, ranges from 2 µg/L to 1 mg/L. For these MPs, good linearity was found in matrix-matched calibration where the most concentrated standard was 5 mg/L (R2 0.9820–0.9989) although the linear range can be larger (e.g. 42 mg MP/L for PS microbeads). The repeatability and reproducibility of the method for the model PS MP were <17.0% and 8.5%, respectively. The sample treatment method consisting of density separation and UV pretreatment, when carried out independently, led to 95.0% and 93.4% recoveries. The overall trueness of the optimized method for various sizes and compositions of microbeads is about 97%, according to validation supported by microscopy analysis. This method can substitute the traditional quantitative analytical approach based on counting microbeads with microscopy

Late Palaeozoic lithostratigraphy of the Andean Precordillera revisited (San Juan Province, Argentina)

New data on some neopalaeozoic lithostratigraphic units of the central sector of the Argentinean Precordillera are presented. The western Precordillera displays occasional outcrops of siliciclastic rocks of the Late Palaeozoic. These rocks are separated by two main unconformi­ties related to the development of the Chanic (Upper Devonian-early Carboniferous) and Gondwanan (late Carboniferous-early Permian) orogens. A major unconformity marks the beginning of the Andean cycle in middle Permian times. The Del Ratón Formation (800 m) in the studied area is made up of conglomerates and can be divided into two units. The basal part (Lower Member) was deposited in a fjord environment. The Upper Member was generated by an alluvial system that was mainly dominated by upper flow-regime plane beds, whereas its uppermost part accumulated in a fan delta setting. The clast provenance and the main palaeocurrents suggest the existence of a significant topographic high to the W and NW of the present outcrops. The El Planchón Formation (1400 m) is mainly composed of shales and sandstones as a result of sedimentation in a deep-sea fan environment. These lutite-dominated materials graded laterally north­wards into conglomerates in a glacial setting. The Del Ratón and El Planchón formations of the Lower Carboniferous correspond to the synorogenic Chanic sedimentation (Chanic foreland basin). Thereafter, the stratigraphic succession underwent deformation which led to its prolonged subaerial exposure and rubefaction. In Permian times, a marine transgression gave rise to the Del Salto Formation (600 m), which is constituted by beach deposits with some aeolian reworking and which lies unconformably over the Lower Carboniferous rocks. Conglomerates (Quebrada del Alumbre Formation, 100 m) produced by an alluvial system prograded episodically into coastal areas. The Escombrera Formation (350 m) is composed of beach deposits prograding seawards. This formation probably represents the end of the Palaeozoic sedimentary record. Thereafter, a playa-lake and an alluvial fan system were generated (Quebrada de la Arena Formation). This unit (750 m) was the last infill of the Gondwanan retroarc foreland, the total thickness of which was about 4000 m.Se presentan nuevos datos sobre las unidades neopaleozoicas aflorantes en la parte occidental de la Precordillera andina. Esas unidades litoestratigráficas estan separadas por dos discordancias angulares principales asociadas al desarrollo de las orogenias Chánica (Devónico tardío-Carbonífero temprano) y Gondwánica (Carbonífero tardío-Pérmico temprano) respectivamente. Otra nueva discordancia sugiere el inicio del ciclo andino durante el Pérmico medio. La Formación Del Ratón (800 m) está constituida principalmente por conglomerados y puede dividirse en dos unidades de rango menor: la parte basal y la parte superior respectivamente. La parte basal (Miembro inferior) fue acumulada en un fiordo. La parte superior (Miembro superior) fue generada en un sistema alluvial dominado predominantemente por la acumulación de capas planas de alto régimen de flujo, mientras que la parte más alta fue depositada en un entorno de abanico deltaico (fandelta). La procedencia de los clastos y las paleocorrientes principales indican la presencia de un relieve topográfico alto y significativo, situado al O y NO de los afloramientos actuales.La Formación El Planchón (1400 m) constituida principalmente por lutitas y areniscas fue acumulada en un contexto de abanico submarino (deep-sea fan). Estos materiales predominantemente lutíticos pasan lateralmente hacia el norte a conglomerados acumulados en un ambiente sedimentario glacial. Las Formaciones Del Ratón y El Planchón corresponden a la sedimentación sinorogénica Chánica (cuenca de antepaís chánica). Posteriormente, la sucesión estratigráfica sufrió una deformación que dió lugar a una prolongada exposición subaérea y su consiguiente rubefacción. Durante el Pérmico, una transgresión marina produjo la acumulación de la Formación Del Salto (600 m), que está constituída por depósitos de playa con algún retrabajamiento eólico y que recubre discordantemente los materiales del Carbonífero inferior. Un sistema aluvial conglomerático (Formación Quebrada del Alumbre 100 m) pogradó episódicamente sobre las zonas costeras. La Formación Escombrera (350 m), que está constituída por materiales arenosos coste-ros progradantes hacia el mar, representa, muy probablemente, el final del registro sedimentario paleozoico en esta zona. Posteriormente se generó otra discordancia sobre la que se acumularon materiales arenosos en un contexto de cursos fluviales trenzados sobre los que se disponen materiales lutíticos acumulados en una ciénaga (playa-lake) que gradan, primero a cursos trenzados, luego a cursos sinousos y finalmente a abanicos aluviales (Formación Quebrada de la Arena). Esta unidad (750 m) corresponde al último relleno sedimentario de la cuenca Gondwánica de retroarco, cuya potencia es del orden de unos 4000 m.Fil: Colombo, F.. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Limarino, Carlos Oscar. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Spalletti, Luis Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Busquets, P. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Cardo, R.. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Mendez Bedia, I. Universidad de Oviedo; EspañaFil: Heredia, N.. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España; Españ

WITHIN SUBJECT VARIABILITY ANALYSIS REVEALS A TRANSITION POINT FOR THE LONGSWING ACROSS AGE GROUPS

This research aimed to observe changes in the within subject variability of the longswing performance and coordination across age groups in gymnasts divided by their competition level, from younger (group 1) to experts (group 5). Data were collected by two video cameras. Performance and coordinative within subject variability were calculated by the standard deviation (inter-trial variability) and the deviation phase (intra-trial variability). Results only showed significant group differences for within subject variability (inter- and intra-trial) in the SD P3H-P3S. In addition, group 4 (14.78±0.57 yrs) showed both large inter-trial variability in the upswing shoulder flexion (P3) and large intra-trial variability during hip and shoulder extension (P2) and P3. Such large variability in group 4 suggests a transition point towards the experts´ performance and coordination (19.96±3.37 yrs)

Preliminary study on low-density polystyrene microplastics bead removal from drinking water by coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation

Microplastics (MPs), sized ~150 μm, have been found in tap water at levels of ~5 particles/L, suggesting that water treatment plants are not effectively removing MPs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to evaluate their fate in drinking water treatment processes. Coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation are applied in water treatment to primarily decrease turbidity, and MPs contribute to water turbidity. This study focuses on the removal of polystyrene (PS) beads of 100 μm with density 1.04–1.06 g/cm3. The low-density PS beads pose a removal challenge because they have similar density to the media. The effects of initial water pH and stirring speed on MPs removal by coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation were studied. The most effective conditions found for removing the PS beads from water, that led to removal rates up to 98.9 ± 0.94%, were 3.4 mg Al/L of coagulant, pH 5, flocculation time of 7 min and sedimentation time of 30 min. For the first time, floc breakage and regrowth following the addition of Al, has shown to favour the removal of the PS beads. Based on this research, coagulation-flocculation can play a very important role in removing MPs during drinking water treatment

In memoriam of Andrés Pérez-Estaún

Non

PRACTICE AND TALENT EFFECTS IN SWING HIGH BAR INTER-JOINT COORDINATION OF NOVICE ADULTS

This research describes changes in movement coordination after a two-month practice period of the swing on high bar in a novice cohort, which was divided by a-priory talent level into two groups: spontaneous-talented, ST, and non-spontaneous-talented, NST. Their performance was also compared with experienced gymnasts. Data were collected during pre- and post-practice sessions by two video cameras. Coordination between hip and shoulder joints was assessed. Results showed a similar practice effect in the swing enlargements in both novice groups. Interestingly, the ST group’s inter-joint coordination variables on the downswing improved more than those of the NST group due to practice. Therefore, the two novice groups improved performance, but they showed diferent local coordination. Initial talent helped to improve both performance and coordination in the down-swing