Three study decades on irrigation performance and salt concentrations and loads in the irrigation return flows of La Violada irrigation district (Spain)

30 Pags., 3 Tabls., 9 Figs. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01678809Irrigation district salt balances identify the main sources and sinks of salts and quantify salt loads in irrigation return flows. Salt balances were performed in La Violada Irrigation District during the 80s (1982–1984), 90s (1995–1998) and 00s (2006–2008) decades. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and loads in irrigation return flows were related with changes in irrigation performance and infrastructures during these decades. TDS increased linearly to increases in Irrigation Consumptive Use Coefficient (ICUC) (P 66%, and decreased exponentially for values above and below these thresholds, respectively. Therefore, the key management strategy to reduce salt discharge to downstream areas is to decrease drainage volumes by improving irrigation management.This work was sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education project AGL2006-11860/AGR, the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the European Union project INCO CT-2005-015031.Peer reviewe

Interventional creation of an atrial septal defect and its impact on right ventricular function: An animal study with the pressure-volume conductance system

Background: The aim of our study was to assess the suitability of different interventional techniques to create an atrial septal defect (ASD) and to evaluate the short-term effects of right ventricular (RV) volume overload on RV contractility in the growing swine. Methods: Thirteen ASD and six control animals were studied. An ASD was created by balloon dilatation (BD) of the fossa ovalis (n = 4) or by implantation of a multi-perforated Amplatzer Septal Occluder (n = 4) or a patch-less nitinol device (n = 5). After 4.8 (3.9&#8211;6.0) weeks, the amounts of left-to-right shunting (Qp/Qs) and RV contractility (end systolic elastance &#8212; Ees) were assessed. Results: In the ASD group, a significant left-to-right shunt could be documented (Qp/Qs 1.5 &#177; &#177; 0.4). However, a shunt was absent in the BD subgroup (Qp/Qs 1.1 &#177; 0.1). In animals with devices implanted, a significant relationship between the post-mortem ASD area and Qp/Qs was found (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). Compared to controls, RV contractility was not significantly impaired at rest and during dobutamine in ASD animals (Ees: 0.40 &#177; 0.20 vs 0.54 &#177; 0.12 and 0.75 &#177; 0.29 vs 1.04 &#177; 0.24 mm Hg/mL, p = NS for both). Conclusions: Device implantation is necessary to create a patent ASD resulting in significant left-to-right shunting. In an experimental ASD model, a five week period of chronic RV volume overload does not alter RV contractility significantly. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 3: 289&#8211;296

Electrodynamic Model of the Heart to Detect Necrotic Areas in a Human Heart

To diagnose the conditions and diseases of the cardiovascular system is the main task of electrocardiology. The problem of the cardiovascular system diagnostics is caused by a complex multi-level mechanism of its functioning, and only experienced specialists are able to establish a correct diagnosis. Since the working heart is inaccessible to direct observations in real life, diagnostics of diseases is based on noninvasive methods such as electrocardiography. By assumption, weak "bursts" (micropotentials) of electrocardiographic signals in different areas are the precursors of dangerous arrhythmias. The amplitude of these signals on the body surface is insignificant and tends to be commensurate with the noise level of the measuring system. Advances in electrocardiography make it possible to generate a high resolution ECG signal and to detect the heart micropotentials. The method of modeling helps to understand causes of micropotentials in the ECG signal by selecting the model parameters. The model of the heart should allow generating a signal close to the high resolution ECG signal. The research aims to find a numerical model that allows solving the inverse problem of the heart tissue characteristics recovery using a high resolution ECG signal and CT data on the heart geometry. The proposed computer model and highly sensitive methods for the ECG measurement are the part of the hardware-software complex to detect dangerous precursors of cardiac arrhythmias

Система управления рисками в таможенных органах Канады

Объектом исследования является формирование политики СУР в таможенном деле Канады. Канады имеет развитую экономику, что доказывает её высокие позиции в мировых рейтингах. Целью работы является описание взаимосвязи внешнеэкономической деятельности Канады и организации системы управления рисками в таможенных органах Канады. Для достижения данной цели был проведён анализ внешнеэкономической деятельности Канады путём изучения бюджета страны, статистических данных и внешнеторговых договоров; изучение документации, которая описывает систему управления рисками таможенных органов КанадыThe object of the study is the formation of the policy of RMS in the customs of Canada. Canada has a developed economy, which proves its high position in the world rankings. The purpose of the work is to describe the relationship of foreign economic activity of Canada and the organization of risk management system in the Canadian customs To achieve this goal, the analysis of foreign economic activity of Canada was carried out by studying the country's budget, statistics and foreign trade contracts; study of documentation that describes the risk management system of the customs authorities of Canad

Изменение структурных характеристик асфальтенов тяжелого углеводородного сырья в термических процессах

AbstractObjectives. We attempted to evaluate the efficacy and tissue reaction of a new miniature interventional ductal occlusion device in neonatal pigs.Background. A variety of devices are used to close persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) by interventional measures. Because of the size of these devices, they have not been applied to term or preterm neonates. Newborn piglets are comparable in size and fragility to human term and preterm neonates.Methods. Memory-shaped double-cone stainless steel coils were mounted on a titanium-nickel core wire. A snap-in mechanism attaches the coil to the delivery wire, allowing intravascular coil retrieval and repositioning. The system was placed through a 3F Teflon catheter. Two piglet models of PDA were used: 1) ductal patency maintained by stents (n = 6), and 2) ductal patency produced by angioplasty (n = 7) to avoid stent-coil interaction.Results. Placement of the coils within the PDA was possible in all piglets. Before final detachment, the coils were retrieved or repositioned, or both, up to eight times. In all but two piglets the ductus was closed within 1 h of the procedure. The coils were never dislocated and caused no infections or relevant aortic and pulmonary artery obstruction (95% confidence interval for missing complications [0 of 13] extends to 23%). Histologic and electron microscopic studies revealed endothelial coverage of the implants and histiocytic reaction but no local or systemic inflammation or erosion of the implant.Conclusions. The device was effective in experimental models of PDA. The information obtained warrants initial trials of the device in neonates