Self-adjoint boundary-value problems on time-scales

In this paper we consider a second order, Sturm-Liouville-type boundary-value operator of the form $$L u := -[p u^{ abla}]^{Delta} + qu,$$ on an arbitrary, bounded time-scale $mathbb{T}$, for suitable functions $p,q$, together with suitable boundary conditions. We show that, with a suitable choice of domain, this operator can be formulated in the Hilbert space $L^2(mathbb{T}_kappa)$, in such a way that the resulting operator is self-adjoint, with compact resolvent (here, "self-adjoint" means in the standard functional analytic meaning of this term). Previous discussions of operators of this, and similar, form have described them as self-adjoint, but have not demonstrated self-adjointness in the standard functional analytic sense

The unlubricated sliding wear behaviour of austempered ductile irons

Bibliography: pages 85-89.A study has been made of the unlubricated sliding wear behaviour of austempered ductile irons under conditions of sliding velocity and load. The load was varied between 0.9 and 2.8 MPa, whilst the sliding velocity range was between 0.5 and 2.0 ms⁻¹. Two commercial grades of spheroidal graphite irons, SG42 and SG60 were austempered between 250⁰C and 400⁰C. A distinction in the wear behaviour was found with metallic type wear dominating at the lower sliding velocities and an oxidative type wear being evident at the higher sliding velocities. It was however found that an increase in the load resulted in an earlier onset of the oxidative type wear regime, for a specific sliding velocity. On austempering these spheroidal graphite irons the mechanical properties as well as the sliding wear resistance increased dramatically. Furthermore, the austempered irons' outperformed a series of steels of much higher hardness by factors between 2 and 28 times under the same conditions. At the lower velocity of testing the outstanding wear resistance is attributed to the austempered iron's unique microstructure of acicular ferrite and retained austenite and a partial transformation of austenite to martensite. However, at the higher sliding velocity the exceptional wear resistance is derived from a development of an tribologically protective oxide film together with the formation of a hardened white layer. The development of the work hardened layer is linked to the high carbon in the matrix of these irons. The work hardened layer leads to a similar wear rate prevailing for all irons austempered from a specific parent iron. The synergism of variation in load, sliding velocity and wear counterface together with the effect of initial microstructure has been explain in terms of simple wear models

Contamination

Soil contamination occurs when substances are added to soil, resulting in increases in concentrations above background or reference levels. Pollution may follow from contamination when contaminants are present in amounts that are detrimental to soil quality and become harmful to the environment or human health. Contamination can occur via a range of pathways including direct application to land and indirect application from atmospheric deposition. Contamination was identified by SEPA (2001) as a significant threat to soil quality in many parts of Scotland. Towers et al. (2006) identified four principal contamination threats to Scottish soils: acidification; eutrophication; metals; and pesticides. The Scottish Soil Framework (Scottish Government, 2009) set out the potential impact of these threats on the principal soil functions. Severe contamination can lead to “contaminated land” [as defined under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act (1990)]. This report does not consider the state and impacts of contaminated land on the wider environment in detail. For further information on contaminated land, see ‘Dealing with Land Contamination in Scotland’ (SEPA, 2009). This chapter considers the causes of soil contamination and their environmental and socio-economic impacts before going on to discuss the status of, and trends in, levels of contaminants in Scotland’s soils

SW England Rare Earth Elements (REE) Stream Sediment Dataset user guide

This report describes how 3378 stream sediment samples collected between 2002 and 2013 across SW England by the BGS G-BASE project were analysed to determine the total concentration of 16 rare earth elements (REE)by inductively-coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS). It documents the methods used to process and display the resultant chemical data. The analytical results were used to create a series of raster (ASCII format) grids and interpolated geochemical maps (PNG images) showing the distribution of REE across SW England

Prepartum Supplementation to Improve Transfer of Passive Immunity and Growth

Late pregnant cows often experience nutritional stress in northern Australia, which reduces colostrum secretion, health, and likelihood of survival of neonatal calves. The effect of prepartum supplementation on the transfer of passive immunity and growth of calves was investigated. The decline in prepartum progesterone was the hypothesised mechanism regulating the transfer of passive immunity. Ninety pregnant Droughtmaster heifers and 45 Brahman cows were used. Animals were stratified by body weight and expected calving date, and separated into two blocks of heifers and one block of cows. Animals were randomly allocated into nutritional treatments, where all were fed low quality Rhodes-grass hay: (1) Control hay only; (2) Protein (PRO), supplemented with 1 kg/d of protein supplement; and (3) Yeast fermentation products (YFP), protein supplement plus 14 g Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (NaturSafeTM). Data for final analyses was available from 92 calves on transfer of passive immunity and from 59 cow/calf pairs on prepartum progesterone decline. Treatment means were compared via orthogonal contrasts for the effect of supplementation PRO and YFP. Protein supplementation for an average of 14 d hastened the decline in the concentration of serum progesterone before parturition (p < 0.01) and tended (p = 0.09) to increase growth rate of calves during the first 10 d (1.0 vs. 0.9 kg/d). However, there was no effect of PRO on neonatal calves plasma immunoglobulin-G1 (IgG1) concentration (p = 0.43). Adding YFP further hastened the progesterone decline before parturition (p < 0.05) and tended to increase plasma IgG1 (p = 0.08). Short term nutritional supplementation prepartum may improve transfer of passive immunity and neonatal calf growth

Evaluation of Adjunctive Mycophenolate for Large Vessel Giant Cell Arteritis

Funding: We are grateful to Versus Arthritis (grant 22088) and PMR/GCA Scotland for supporting our workPeer reviewedPublisher PD