Complex Networks on a Rock Joint

A complex network approach on a rough fracture is developed. In this manner, some hidden metric spaces (similarity measurements) between apertures profiles are set up and a general evolutionary network in two directions (in parallel and perpendicular to the shear direction) is constructed. Also, an algorithm (COmplex Networks on Apertures: CONA) is proposed in which evolving of a network is accomplished using preferential detachments and attachments of edges (based on a competition and game manner) while the number of nodes is fixed. Also, evolving of clustering coefficients and number of edges display similar patterns as well as are appeared in shear stress, hydraulic conductivity and dilation changes, which can be engaged to estimate shear strength distribution of asperities.Comment: ROCKENG09: Proceedings of the 3rd CANUS Rock Mechanics Symposium, Toronto, May 2009 (Ed: M.Diederichs and G. Grasselli

Mortality following a brain tumour diagnosis in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objectives: As brain tumours and their treatment may theoretically have a poorer prognosis in inflammatory central nervous system diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), all-cause mortality following a brain tumour diagnosis was compared between patients with and without MS. The potential role of age at tumour diagnosis was also examined. Setting: Hospital inpatients in Sweden with assessment of mortality in hospital or following discharge. Participants: Swedish national registers identified 20 543 patients with an MS diagnosis (1969-2005) and they were matched individually to produce a comparison cohort of 204 163 members of the general population without MS. Everyone with a primary brain tumour diagnosis was selected for this study: 111 with MS and 907 without MS. Primary and secondary outcome measures: 5-year mortality risk following brain tumour diagnosis and age at brain tumour diagnosis. Results: A non-statistically significant lower mortality risk among patients with MS (lower for those with tumours of high-grade and uncertain-grade malignancy and no notable difference for low-grade tumours) produced an unadjusted HR (and 95% CI) of 0.75 (0.56 to 1.02). After adjustment for age at diagnosis, grade of malignancy, sex, region of residence and socioeconomic index, the HR is 0.91 (0.67-1.24). The change in estimate was largely due to adjustment for age at brain tumour diagnosis, as patients with MS were on average 4.7 years younger at brain tumour diagnosis than those in the comparison cohort (p<0.001). Conclusions: Younger age at tumour diagnosis may contribute to mortality reduction in those with highgrade and uncertain-grade brain tumours. Survival following a brain tumour is not worse in patients with MS; even after age at brain tumour diagnosis and grade of malignancy are taken into account

Identifying Stakeholders’ Role in Waste Management in the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang City

This is a study to identify the role of stakeholders in waste management in the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang city conducted by M.N.B.C. Neolaka; A. O. Ena Mau and A. Fallo. The purpose of this study is to (1) identify the stakeholders in waste management in the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang city; (2) identify and explain the role of stakeholders in waste management in the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang city; (3) describe and analyze the supporting and inhibiting aspects of the stakeholders' role in waste management in the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang city. The approach used in this study was qualitative, whose type of research is a case study; it was a case relating to the role of stakeholders that have been identified in waste management. Research conducted at the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang city, and in six sub-districts in Kupang city focusing on the role of the government, which in this case, the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang city in dealing with the waste problem. It also discussed the role of the community and organizations concerning the waste problem in the city of Kupang.The results revealed that the Sanitation and Environment Agency of Kupang city played a role in waste management: planning, implementing, and supervising. Other stakeholders having a role in waste management in Kupang City were the Urban Village apparatus, neighborhood and community association (Indonesian: Rukun Tetangga or RT and Rukun Warga or RW), Sanitation Officers (collectors, transporters, and waste sorters from waste temporary disposal site (Indonesian: Tempat Pembuangan Sementara or TPS) to waste final disposal site (Indonesian: Tempat Pembuangan Akhir or TPA), stakeholders from the Community Element (households, community groups, students groups, scavengers, collectors, as well as small and medium enterprises), and private parties (managers of tourist attractions and companies). Keywords: Role, Stakeholders, Management, Solid Waste, Environment, Sanitation DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-12-02 Publication date: December 31st 202

Living Conditions and Poverty in Brazil

Brazil, Living Condition, Informal Sector

Modeling the Neuroprotective Role of Enhanced Astrocyte Mitochondrial Metabolism during Stroke

AbstractA mathematical model that integrates the dynamics of cell membrane potential, ion homeostasis, cell volume, mitochondrial ATP production, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ handling, IP3 production, and GTP-binding protein-coupled receptor signaling was developed. Simulations with this model support recent experimental data showing a protective effect of stimulating an astrocytic GTP-binding protein-coupled receptor (P2Y1Rs) following cerebral ischemic stroke. The model was analyzed to better understand the mathematical behavior of the equations and to provide insights into the underlying biological data. This approach yielded explicit formulas determining how changes in IP3-mediated Ca2+ release, under varying conditions of oxygen and the energy substrate pyruvate, affected mitochondrial ATP production, and was utilized to predict rate-limiting variables in P2Y1R-enhanced astrocyte protection after cerebral ischemic stroke

Caractérisation des sols de la zone des Niayes de Pikine et de Saint Louis (Sénégal)

La zone des Niayes fournit l&#8217;essentiel de la production mara&#238;ch&#232;re du S&#233;n&#233;gal. Cependant, son potentiel agricole a &#233;t&#233; s&#233;rieusement r&#233;duit par la d&#233;gradation des terres dont les al&#233;as climatiques de ces derni&#232;res d&#233;cennies ainsi que les mauvaises pratiques culturales sont les causes. Cette &#233;tude se propose de caract&#233;riser les sols de la zone afin d&#8217;identifier les diff&#233;rentes unit&#233;s. Pour se faire, des profils p&#233;dologiques ont &#233;t&#233; d&#233;crits dans diff&#233;rentes localit&#233;s, et leurs param&#232;tres physico-chimiques d&#233;termin&#233;s. Les r&#233;sultats de l&#8217;analyse factorielle de correspondance (AFC) de la matrice des profils et param&#232;tres physico-chimiques ont r&#233;v&#233;l&#233; l&#8217;existence, selon la salinit&#233;, de trois groupes de sols r&#233;partis dans toutes les Niayes. L&#8217;analyse a aussi montr&#233; l&#8217;existence selon l&#8217;alcalinit&#233; ou l&#8217;acidit&#233; et la teneur en calcium &#233;changeable, de deux groupes de sols retrouv&#233;s uniquement dans la partie nord. La salinisation des sols plus marqu&#233;e au niveau des bas-fonds de la partie sud, s&#8217;expliquerait par l&#8217;abaissement de la nappe phr&#233;atique et l&#8217;intrusion des eaux de mer. A cela s&#8217;ajoute les apports non n&#233;gligeables des embruns marins dans les zones proches de l&#8217;oc&#233;an, et les effets du barrage de Diama et du canal de d&#233;lestage ouvert sur la Langue de Barbarie &#224; Saint-Louis.Mots cl&#233;s: AFC, Niayes, Profil p&#233;dologiqu