Cytherean crustal bending at Salme Dorsa

The Salme ridge belt can be interpreted as being the leading edge of a venusian crustal unit that moved against the highland foreland unit. It is indicative of a compressional zone, with a thrust front facing west. The Salme ridge belt with adjoining structures is an evident indication of lateral stresses and adjoining crustal movements on Venus. It supports the idea of southeast compression against and over the foreland planitia, which has bent under the load and/or lateral stress, resulting in trough and bulge formation in front of the ridge belt. The origin of the driving force for the movements remains masked. Laima Tessera is located in the direction from which the thrust is thought to apply but there are no appropriate candidates for a rift zone although a thrust from the southeast would be in good agreement with structures of Laima Tessera. The temperature gradient suggests that the lithosphere is approximately 12 km thick, while its elastic layer is approximately 3 km thick based either on the load-induced flexure model or on the compressional buckling model

Abel and Dan (2 Sam 20:18–19) in Textual Criticism, Tradition History, and Archaeology

The MT form of the saying of the wise woman in 2 Sam 20:18–19 presents multiple text-critical problems. Instead of “Let them inquire at Abel,” the LXX refers to “Abel and Dan.” The notion of the wise woman being “one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel” (NRSV) is grammatically difficult; the LXX reads differently: “what the faithful of Israel had established, had been abandoned.” This paper seeks to bring textual criticism into discussion with an archaeological analysis, including a tradition-historical angle on the story, by: 1. Re-examining the textual evidence, with due consideration of the Septuagint. 2. Considering the archaeological findings of Iron Age sites at Tel Abel and Tel Dan. 3. Examining the textual and iconographic implications of the motif “woman on the wall.” 4. Evaluating the plausibility of the historical settings implied in the story in light of the textual and archaeological evidence.Peer reviewe

Tacoma Narrows -sillan sortuminen

Tiivistelmä. Tämän kandidaatintyön päätavoitteena oli etsiä syitä Tacoma Narrows -sillan sortumiselle kirjallisuuskatsauksella. Työssä esitellään lukijalle Tacoma Narrows -sillan historiaa ja riippusiltoja yleisesti sekä kaksi yksinkertaista laskennallista mallia sillan sortumiselle. Työssä havainnollistetaan kuvin sortumisen aiheuttaneen oskillaation alkaminen ja pyörrevirtojen syntyminen. Laskennallisia malleja verrataan sillasta tehtyyn tuulitunnelidataan. Ensimmäinen tapauksesta tehty laskennallinen malli ei vastaa tuulitunnelidataa korkeammilla tuulen nopeuksilla mutta tästä eteenpäin viety malli vastaa dataa tarkemmin. Tacoma Narrows -silta valmistui heinäkuussa 1940 ja sortui saman vuoden marraskuussa kestettyään voimakasta oskillaatiota lähes tunnin. Sillan liian heiveröinen, I-palkein jäykistetty kansi, oli hyvin altis värähtelyille ja se värähtelikin jo ennen onnettomuutta välillä voimakkaastikin. Värähtelyn amplitudi oli ennen sortumista korkeimmillaan jopa 1.5 metriä. Silta sortui lopulta marraskuun 7. päivänä 1940 pyörrevirtojen aiheuttaman voimakkaan vääntövärähdysliikkeen seurauksena. Kannen poikkileikkauksen kantikas muoto edesauttoi pyörrevirtojen syntymistä ja sillassa valmiiksi ollut pystysuuntainen värähtely muutti muotoaan vääntövärähtelyyn. Pyörrevirroista aiheutuva kannen normaalin suuntainen voima vaikutti kanteen vääntömomentin tavoin saaden sen vääntyilemään. Sortuminen laittoi Yhdysvalloissa pitkien riippusiltojen rakentamisen tauolle kymmeneksi vuodeksi ja sortunut Tacoma Narrows -silta korvattiin jäykistetymmällä sillalla vuonna 1950. Sortumisen jälkeen pitkien jännevälien siltojen tuulianalyysit otettiin laajemmin käyttöön ja niille luotiin teoriapohja. Tapaus on vieläkin insinöörien mielenkiinnon kohteena ja siitä esitetään yhä tarkempia malleja.The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Abstract. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the reasons behind the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge with a literature review. The history of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, suspension bridges in general and two simple computational models of the collapse are introduced. The beginning of oscillation and vortices which caused the collapse are demonstrated via pictures. Computational models are compared to the wind tunnel data of the bridge. First computational model did not match the wind tunnel data at the higher wind speeds, but the more advanced model matches the data more accurately. The construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was completed in July 1940, and it collapsed in November of the same year after withstanding powerful oscillations for nearly an hour. The I-beam stiffened deck of the bridge was too weak and exposed for oscillations. Before collapsing, the deck suffered hard oscillations occasionally and the amplitude of oscillations was up to 1.5 meters. The bridge finally collapsed after powerful torsional oscillation caused by vortices, on 7th November 1940. Cross-section of the deck was very square which enabled the vortices to begin. Up-down oscillation changed to torsional oscillation. Direction of force generated by vortices was perpendicular to the deck, so it effected like torque. That torque forced the deck to twist. The collapsing caused construction works of long suspension bridges to pause for ten years. The collapsed Tacoma Narrows Bridge was replaced with more stiffened bridge in 1950. After collapsing, theory base was created for wind tunnel tests of long span bridges, and it was brought into use. The case is still area of interest of engineers and more accurate models are still introduced

Tracking phosphorus enrichment and ecosystem change in wetlands

This thesis describes how phosphorus (P) storage of ecosystem components and ecosystem structure change simultaneously as a wetland undergoes nutrient enrichment. Three experiments at Capel Wetlands Centre (Western Australia), where treated municipal effluent was discharged into P-limited wetlands, tracked progress of eutrophication within and between different functional zones (submerged bare sediment, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), emergent Typha stands), over different temporal scales: a mesocosm experiment (3-month), and seasonal (9-month) and annual (3-year) monitoring. Conceptual models were developed to describe the outcomes. The experiments revealed several important aspects of the eutrophication process. Seasonal patterns in P-dynamics evident in unenriched lakes were overwhelmed by high P-loads, and progression to hypereutrophy occurred despite not all P-stores being saturated. Functional zones responded differently to enrichment, contingent on the type and number of P-stores with different uptake patterns. P concentration in stores responded more rapidly than mass, with both measures needed to assess the progress of eutrophication. Phytoplankton, periphyton and SAV responded rapidly to enrichment, but uptake was minimal, while topsoil, litter, floc and Typha responded more slowly but were larger P-stores. Bare sediment eutrophied most rapidly. Enrichment caused loss of SAV; then re-released P stimulated phytoplankton and floc production. Diverse stores in the Typha zone slowed the progress of eutrophication, but Typha itself declined due to increased depth and decreased water quality caused by wastewater discharge. Maintaining vegetation is recommended to maximise direct and indirect P uptake and biodiversity benefits. Litter and floc took up substantial P in early enrichment, but potentially become P-sources when water/sediment quality deteriorates. Their presence reduced soil/water interaction potentially limiting P-uptake by soil. The holistic approach used here chronicles eutrophication as a changing flowpath of interrelated reactions between different ecosystem components over different temporal scales. It provides a functional and transferable understanding of eutrophication, necessary for successful wetland management

Self-reported sleep disturbance and incidence of dementia in ageing men

Background Sleep disturbance is suggested to contribute to the development of dementia. However, prospective longitudinal data from middle-aged populations are scarce. Methods We investigated a population-based sample of 2386 men aged 42-62 years at baseline during 1984-1989. Participants having a history of mental illnesses, psychiatric medication, Parkinson's disease or dementia within 2 years after baseline (n=296) were excluded. Difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep, sleep duration and daytime tiredness were enquired. Dementia diagnoses (n=287) between 1984 and 2014 were obtained through linkage with hospital discharge, national death and special reimbursement registers. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed for all dementias, and separately for Alzheimer's disease (n=234) and other phenotypes (n=53). Additional analyses were performed on a subsample of an apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype-tested population (n=1199). Results The risk ratio for dementia was 1.58 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.27) in men with frequent sleep disturbance after adjustments for age, examination year, elevated depressive symptoms, physical activity, alcohol consumption, cumulative smoking history, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C reactive protein, cardiovascular disease history, education years and living alone. Daytime tiredness and sleep duration were not associated with dementia in adjusted analysis. In the APOE subsample, both APOE epsilon 4 genotype and frequent sleep disturbance were associated with increased dementia risk, but in the interaction analysis they had no joint effect. Conclusions Self-reported frequent sleep disturbance in middle-aged men may relate to the development of dementia in later life. Having an APOE e4 genotype did not affect the relationship

L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms : Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety

Correction ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Pages: 705-705 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa088 Published: NOV 2020Aims: Alcohol-related hangover symptoms: nausea, headache, stress and anxiety cause globally considerable amount of health problems and economic losses. Many of these harmful effects are produced by alcohol and its metabolite, acetaldehyde, which also is a common ingredient in alcohol beverages. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of the amino acid L-cysteine on the alcohol/acetaldehyde related aftereffects. Methods: Voluntary healthy participants were recruited through advertisements. Volunteers had to have experience of hangover and/or headache. The hangover study was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. Nineteen males randomly swallowed placebo and L-cysteine tablets. The alcohol dose was 1.5 g/kg, which was consumed during 3 h. Results: The primary results based on correlational analysis showed that L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. For hangover, nausea and headache the results were apparent with the L-cysteine dose of 1200 mg and for stress and anxiety already with the dose of 600 mg. Conclusions: L-cysteine would reduce the need of drinking the next day with no or less hangover symptoms: nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. Altogether, these effects of L-cysteine are unique and seem to have a future in preventing or alleviating these harmful symptoms as well as reducing the risk of alcohol addiction.Peer reviewe

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with higher risk of frequent headache in middle-aged and older men

© The Author(s) 2017.Vitamin D has been suggested to have a role in various neurovascular diseases, but the data regarding headache is inconclusive. Our aim was to investigate the associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], a marker for vitamin D status, and risk of frequent headache. The study population consisted of 2601 men from the population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD) from eastern Finland, aged 42-60 years in 1984-1989. The cross-sectional associations with prevalence of self-reported frequent headache (defined as weekly or daily headaches) were estimated with multivariable-adjusted odds ratios. The average serum 25(OH) concentration was 43.4 nmol/L (SD 18.9, min-max 7.8-136.1 nmol/L). A total of 250 men (9.6%) reported frequent headache. The average serum 25(OH)D concentration among those with frequent headache was 38.3 nmol/L (SD 18.8) and 43.9 nmol/L (SD 18.9) among those without frequent headache, after adjustment for age and year and month of blood draw (P for difference <0.001). After multivariable adjustments, those in the lowest vs. the highest serum 25(OH)D quartile had 113% (95% CI 42, 218%; P for trend <0.001) higher odds for frequent headache. In conclusion, low serum 25(OH)D concentration was associated with markedly higher risk of frequent headache in men

Independent and combined effects of physical activity and body mass index on the development of Type 2 Diabetes - a meta-analysis of 9 prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this harmonized meta-analysis was to examine the independent and combined effects of physical activity and BMI on the incidence of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Our systematic literature review in 2011 identified 127 potentially relevant prospective studies of which 9 fulfilled the inclusion criteria (total N = 117,878, 56.2 % female, mean age = 50.0 years, range = 25-65 years). Measures of baseline physical activity (low, intermediate, high), BMI-category [BMI < 18.4 (underweight), 18.5-24.9 (normal weight), 25.0-29.9 (overweight), 30+ (obese)] and incident type 2 diabetes were harmonized across studies. The associations between physical activity, BMI and incident type 2 diabetes were analyzed using Cox regression with a standardized analysis protocol including adjustments for age, gender, educational level, and smoking. Hazard ratios from individual studies were combined in a random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 9.1 years. A total of 11,237 incident type 2 diabetes cases were recorded. In mutually adjusted models, being overweight or obese (compared with normal weight) and having low physical activity (compared with high physical activity) were associated with an increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes (hazard ratios 2.33, 95 % CI 1.95-2.78; 6.10, 95 % CI: 4.63-8.04, and 1.23, 95 % CI: 1.09-1.39, respectively). Individuals who were both obese and had low physical activity had 7.4-fold (95 % CI 3.47-15.89) increased risk of type 2 diabetes compared with normal weight, high physically active participants. CONCLUSIONS: This harmonized meta-analysis shows the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active in diabetes prevention

Ceramide stearic to palmitic acid ratio predicts incident diabetes

Aims/hypothesis Ceramide lipids have a role in the development of insulin resistance, diabetes and risk of cardiovascular disease. Here we investigated four ceramides and their ratios to find the best predictors of incident diabetes. Methods A validated mass-spectrometric method was applied to measure Cer(d18:1/16:0), Cer(d18:1/18:0), Cer(d18:1/24:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1) from serum or plasma samples. These ceramides were analysed in a population-based risk factor study (FINRISK 2002, n = 8045), in a cohort of participants undergoing elective coronary angiography for suspected stable angina pectoris (Western Norway Coronary Angiography Cohort [WECAC], n = 3344) and in an intervention trial investigating improved methods of lifestyle modification for individuals at high risk of the metabolic syndrome (Prevent Metabolic Syndrome [PrevMetSyn], n = 371). Diabetes risk score models were developed to estimate the 10 year risk of incident diabetes. Results Analysis in FINRISK 2002 showed that the Cer(d18:1/18:0)/Cer(d18:1/16:0) ceramide ratio was predictive of incident diabetes (HR per SD 2.23, 95% CI 2.05, 2.42), and remained significant after adjustment for several risk factors, including BMI, fasting glucose and HbA1c (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.14, 1.57). The finding was validated in the WECAC study (unadjusted HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.53, 2.14; adjusted HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.16, 1.66). In the intervention trial, the ceramide ratio and diabetes risk scores significantly decreased in individuals who had 5% or more weight loss. Conclusions/interpretation The Cer(d18:1/18:0)/Cer(d18:1/16:0) ratio is an independent predictive biomarker for incident diabetes, and may be modulated by lifestyle intervention.publishedVersio