Non equilibrium effects in fragmentation

We study, using molecular dynamics techniques, how boundary conditions affect the process of fragmentation of finite, highly excited, Lennard-Jones systems. We analyze the behavior of the caloric curves (CC), the associated thermal response functions (TRF) and cluster mass distributions for constrained and unconstrained hot drops. It is shown that the resulting CC's for the constrained case differ from the one in the unconstrained case, mainly in the presence of a ``vapor branch''. This branch is absent in the free expanding case even at high energies . This effect is traced to the role played by the collective expansion motion. On the other hand, we found that the recently proposed characteristic features of a first order phase transition taking place in a finite isolated system, i.e. abnormally large kinetic energy fluctuations and a negative branch in the TRF, are present for the constrained (dilute) as well the unconstrained case. The microscopic origin of this behavior is also analyzed.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figure

Review of analytical approaches for the identification of non-intentionally added substances in paper and board food contact materials

Background: Food contact materials (FCM) may contain non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) as a result of reaction by-products, oligomers, degradation processes, chemical reactions between packaging materials and foodstuff, or as impurities from the raw materials used for their production. Scope and approach: In this review, current approaches for the detection and identification of NIAS from paper and board FCM are presented. Reviewed are the definition of NIAS, approaches for NIAS identification and quantification, the comprehensive analysis of NIAS and the role of in silico tools and bioassays. Key Findings and Conclusions: NIAS in paper and board are mostly components from printing inks, adhesives, sizing agents and surface coatings. Recycled paper contains overall more NIAS than fresh paper. Targeted analysis is generally performed for predicted NIAS, whereas an untargeted, or full-scan screening method is applied to detect and identify unpredicted NIAS. Sample preparation and contact conditions fall in two categories; migration and extraction. Migration studies are performed with food simulants while extraction studies are Soxhlet or ultrasound assisted solvent extraction. In untargeted analysis in silico tools are gaining importance in the identification of NIAS. Bioassays are used to determine the bioactivity of extracts or fractions in order to assess the potential toxicity of NIAS present in the mixture. A combination of bioassays and chemical analysis is used to direct the identification of unknown bioactive NIAS in complex mixtures like those from paper and board FCM. However, future research is required into the selection of bioassays since these should not only be sensitive enough for detecting all compounds of concern but should also have a relevance with human health.</p

Comparative evaluation of three semi-quantitative radiographic grading techniques for knee osteoarthritis in terms of validity and reproducibility in 1759 X-rays: report of the OARSI–OMERACT task force

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to compare the measurement properties of three categorical X-ray scoring methods of knee osteoarthritis (OA), both on semiflexed and extended views. METHODS: In data obtained from trials and cohorts, X-rays were graded using Kellgren and Lawrence (KL), the OA Research Society International (OARSI) joint space narrowing score, and measurement of joint space width (JSW). JSW was analyzed as a categorical variable. Construct validity was assessed through logistic regression between X-ray stages and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index. Inter-observer reliability was assessed in 50 subjects for extended views by weighted kappa. Intra-observer reliability and sensitivity to change were assessed separately for extended and semiflexed views in 50 patients who had both views performed, over a 30-month interval, by weighted kappa and standardized response mean (SRM). RESULTS: Extended views were available from three trials and two cohorts (1759 X-rays), including one trial in which both extended and semiflexed views (antero-posterior) were obtained. Correlation with clinical parameters was low for the three scoring methods, except for the single community-based cohort. Inter-rater reliability was higher for categorical JSW in extended views (kappa, 0.86 vs 0.56 and 0.48 for KL and OARSI, respectively). Intra-rater reliability was higher for categorical JSW, both in extended views (0.83 vs 0.61 and 0.71) and in semiflexed views (0.89 vs 0.50 and 0.67). Sensitivity to change was also higher for categorical JSW, particularly in semiflexed views (SRM, 0.49 vs 0.22 and 0.34). CONCLUSION: These results indicate categorical JSW, in particular on semiflexed views, may be the preferred method to evaluate structural severity in knee OA clinical trials

Limitation of energy deposition in classical N body dynamics

Energy transfers in collisions between classical clusters are studied with Classical N Body Dynamics calculations for different entrance channels. It is shown that the energy per particle transferred to thermalised classical clusters does not exceed the energy of the least bound particle in the cluster in its ``ground state''. This limitation is observed during the whole time of the collision, except for the heaviest system.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, 1 tabl

Combined constraints on modified Chaplygin gas model from cosmological observed data: Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach

We use the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method to investigate a global constraints on the modified Chaplygin gas (MCG) model as the unification of dark matter and dark energy from the latest observational data: the Union2 dataset of type supernovae Ia (SNIa), the observational Hubble data (OHD), the cluster X-ray gas mass fraction, the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO), and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data. In a flat universe, the constraint results for MCG model are, $\Omega_{b}h^{2}=0.02263^{+0.00184}_{-0.00162}$ ($1\sigma$) $^{+0.00213}_{-0.00195}$ $(2\sigma)$, $B_{s}=0.7788^{+0.0736}_{-0.0723}$ ($1\sigma$) $^{+0.0918}_{-0.0904}$ $(2\sigma)$, $\alpha=0.1079^{+0.3397}_{-0.2539}$ ($1\sigma$) $^{+0.4678}_{-0.2911}$ $(2\sigma)$, $B=0.00189^{+0.00583}_{-0.00756}$ ($1\sigma$) $^{+0.00660}_{-0.00915}$ $(2\sigma)$, and $H_{0}=70.711^{+4.188}_{-3.142}$ ($1\sigma$) $^{+5.281}_{-4.149}$ $(2\sigma)$.Comment: 12 pages, 1figur

Women's attitudes towards mechanisms of action of family planning methods: survey in primary health centres in Pamplona, Spain

Background: Informed consent in family planning includes knowledge of mechanism of action. Some methods of family planning occasionally work after fertilization. Knowing about postfertilization effects may be important to some women before choosing a certain family planning method. The objective of this survey is to explore women's attitudes towards postfertilization effects of family planning methods, and beliefs and characteristics possibly associated with those attitudes. Methods: Cross-sectional survey in a sample of 755 potentially fertile women, aged 18–49, from Primary Care Health Centres in Pamplona, Spain. Participants were given a 30-item, selfadministered, anonymous questionnaire about family planning methods and medical and surgical abortion. Logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with women's attitudes towards postfertilization effects. Results: The response rate was 80%. The majority of women were married, held an academic degree and had no children. Forty percent of women would not consider using a method that may work after fertilization but before implantation and 57% would not consider using one that may work after implantation. While 35.3% of the sample would stop using a method if they learned that it sometimes works after fertilization, this percentage increased to 56.3% when referring to a method that sometimes works after implantation. Women who believe that human life begins at fertilization and those who consider it is important to distinguish between natural and induced embryo loss were less likely to consider the use of a method with postfertilization effects. Conclusion: Information about potential postfertilization effects of family planning methods may influence women's acceptance and choice of a particular family planning method. Additional studies in other populations are necessary to evaluate whether these beliefs are important to those populations

Bacterial and fungal co-occurrence patterns in agricultural soils amended with compost and bokashi

Plant science

Transition between Variscan and Alpine cycles in the Pyrenean-Cantabrian Mountains (N Spain): Geodynamic evolution of near-equator European Permian basins

In the northern Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenean-Cantabrian orogenic belt extends E-W for ca. 1000 km between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. This orogen developed from the collision between Iberia and Eurasia, mainly in Cenozoic times. Lower-middle Permian sediments crop out in small, elongated basins traditionally considered independent from each other due to misinterpretations on incomplete lithostratigraphic data and scarce radiometric ages. Here, we integrate detailed stratigraphic, sedimentary, tectonic, paleosol and magmatic data from well-dated lithostratigraphic units. Our data reveal a similar geodynamic evolution across the Pyrenean-Cantabrian Ranges at the end of the Variscan cycle. Lower-middle Permian basins started their development under an extensional regime related to the end of the Variscan Belt collapse, which stars in late Carboniferous times in the Variscan hinterland. This orogenic collapse transitioned to Pangea breakup at the middle Permian times in the study region. Sedimentation occurred as three main tectono-sedimentary extensional phases. A first phase (Asselian-Sakmarian), which may have even started at the end of the Carboniferous (Gzhelian) in some sections, is mainly represented by alluvial sedimentation associated with calc-alkaline magmatism. A second stage (late Artinskian-early Kungurian), represented by al-luvial, lacustrine and palustrine sediments with intercalations of calc-alkaline volcanic beds, shows a clear up-ward aridification trend probably related to the late Paleozoic icehouse-greenhouse transition. The third and final stage (Wordian-Capitanian) comprised of alluvial deposits with intercalations of alkaline and mafic beds, rarely deposited in the Cantabrian Mountains, and underwent significant pre-and Early Mesozoic erosion in some segments of the Pyrenees. This third stage can be related to a transition towards the Pangea Supercontinent breakup, not generalized until the Early/Middle Triassic at this latitude because the extensional process stopped about 10 Myr (Pyrenees) to 30 Myr (Cantabrian Mountains). When compared to other well-dated basins near the paleoequator, the tectono-sedimentary and climate evolution of lower-middle Permian basins in Western and Central Europe shows common features. Specifically, we identify coeval periods with magmatic activity, extensional tectonics, high subsidence rates and thick sedi-mentary record, as well as prolonged periods without sedimentation. This comparison also identifies some evolutionary differences between Permian basins that could be related to distinct locations in the hinterland or foreland of the Variscan orogen. Our data provide a better understanding of the major crustal re-equilibration and reorganization that took place near the equator in Western-Central Europe during the post-Variscan period

Revisiting Generalized Chaplygin Gas as a Unified Dark Matter and Dark Energy Model

In this paper, we revisit generalized Chaplygin gas (GCG) model as a unified dark matter and dark energy model. The energy density of GCG model is given as $\rho_{GCG}/\rho_{GCG0}=[B_{s}+(1-B_{s})a^{-3(1+\alpha)}]^{1/(1+\alpha)}$, where $\alpha$ and $B_s$ are two model parameters which will be constrained by type Ia supernova as standard candles, baryon acoustic oscillation as standard rulers and the seventh year full WMAP data points. In this paper, we will not separate GCG into dark matter and dark energy parts any more as adopted in the literatures. By using Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, we find the result: $\alpha=0.00126_{- 0.00126- 0.00126}^{+ 0.000970+ 0.00268}$ and $B_s= 0.775_{- 0.0161- 0.0338}^{+ 0.0161+ 0.0307}$.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Feature selection for automatic analysis of emotional response based on nonlinear speech modeling suitable for diagnosis of Alzheimer׳s disease

Alzheimer׳s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia among the elderly. This work is part of a larger study that aims to identify novel technologies and biomarkers or features for the early detection of AD and its degree of severity. The diagnosis is made by analyzing several biomarkers and conducting a variety of tests (although only a post-mortem examination of the patients’ brain tissue is considered to provide definitive confirmation). Non-invasive intelligent diagnosis techniques would be a very valuable diagnostic aid. This paper concerns the Automatic Analysis of Emotional Response (AAER) in spontaneous speech based on classical and new emotional speech features: Emotional Temperature (ET) and fractal dimension (FD). This is a pre-clinical study aiming to validate tests and biomarkers for future diagnostic use. The method has the great advantage of being non-invasive, low cost, and without any side effects. The AAER shows very promising results for the definition of features useful in the early diagnosis of AD