Self-affine roughness effects on the double-layer charge density and capacitance in the nonlinear regime

In this paper we investigate the influence of self-affine roughness on the charge density and capacitance of electrical double layers within the nonlinear regime. The roughness influence is significant for small roughness exponents (

Simulation of the production pattern of rape-seed on the basis of a field experiment.

A simulation model, an extension of SUCROS, for growth and development of rape (Brassica napus) seed on the basis of laboratory and field measurements gave a final seed yield of 2.9 t/ha. Light interception by the inflorescence caused a reduction of 4, 8 and 5% in total DM yield, stem wt. and seed wt., resp. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

Modeling of an automotive exhaust gas converter at low temperature aiming at control application

The LEV/ULEV emission standards pose challenging problems on automotive exhaust gas treatment. This increases the need for good catalytic converter models, which can be applied for control. A dynamic converter model was made on the basis of first principles, accounting for the accumulation of mass in the bulk gas phase, in pores of the washcoat and on the catalytic surface, as well as for the energy accumulation in the gas and solid phase. The basis for the model is the elementary step kinetics of the individual global reactions. The main purpose of the model is to describe the low temperature behavior of the converter, when the majority of the emissions occur. The light-off process is analyzed in detail with different inputs. The biggest improvement occurs when secondary air is injected in front of the converter. The converter model is also coupled with a simple SI engine model to investigate the dynamic behavior of the whole system.</p

The prognostic value of the hamstring outcome score to predict the risk of hamstring injuries

OBJECTIVES: Hamstring injuries are common among soccer players. The hamstring outcome score (HaOS) might be useful to identify amateur players at risk of hamstring injury. Therefore the aims of this study were: To determine the association between the HaOS and prior and new hamstring injuries in amateur soccer players, and to determine the prognostic value of the HaOS for identifying players with or without previous hamstring injuries at risk of future injury. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: HaOS scores and information about previous injuries were collected at baseline and new injuries were prospectively registered during a cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 400 amateur soccer players. Analysis of variance and t-tests were used to determine the association between the HaOS and previous and new hamstring injury, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated the prognostic value of the HaOS for predicting new hamstring injuries. RESULTS: Analysis of data of 356 players indicated that lower HaOS scores were associated with more previous hamstring injuries (F=17.4; p=0.000) and that players with lower HaOS scores sustained more new hamstring injuries (T=3.59, df=67.23, p=0.001). With a conventional HaOS score cut-off of 80%, logistic regression models yielded a probability of hamstring injuries of 11%, 18%, and 28% for players with 0,1, or 2 hamstring injuries in the previous season, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HaOS is associated with previous and future hamstring injury and might be a useful tool to provide players with insight into their risk of sustaining a new hamstring injury risk when used in combination with previous injuries

Sub-surface Oxygen and Surface Oxide Formation at Ag(111): A Density-functional Theory Investigation

To help provide insight into the remarkable catalytic behavior of the oxygen/silver system for heterogeneous oxidation reactions, purely sub-surface oxygen, and structures involving both on-surface and sub-surface oxygen, as well as oxide-like structures at the Ag(111) surface have been studied for a wide range of coverages and adsorption sites using density-functional theory. Adsorption on the surface in fcc sites is energetically favorable for low coverages, while for higher coverage a thin surface-oxide structure is energetically favorable. This structure has been proposed to correspond to the experimentally observed (4x4) phase. With increasing O concentrations, thicker oxide-like structures resembling compressed Ag2O(111) surfaces are energetically favored. Due to the relatively low thermal stability of these structures, and the very low sticking probability of O2 at Ag(111), their formation and observation may require the use of atomic oxygen (or ozone, O3) and low temperatures. We also investigate diffusion of O into the sub-surface region at low coverage (0.11 ML), and the effect of surface Ag vacancies in the adsorption of atomic oxygen and ozone-like species. The present studies, together with our earlier investigations of on-surface and surface-substitutional adsorption, provide a comprehensive picture of the behavior and chemical nature of the interaction of oxygen and Ag(111), as well as of the initial stages of oxide formation.Comment: 17 pages including 14 figures, Related publications can be found at http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm

Acute Cardiac Failure due to Intra-Atrial Mass Caused by Zygomycetes in an Immunocompromised Paediatric Patient

Cardiac zygomycosis can be a critical condition with sudden onset of severe congestive heart failure followed by severe hemodynamic deterioration. We report a fatal course of disseminated fungal infection with a massive intra-atrial thrombosis caused by a zygomycete, in a five year old boy treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. In addition, we discuss the literature concerning infections caused by zygomycetes involving the heart. Prognosis is poor. A high index of suspicion and an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach with the prompt start of preemptive antifungal therapy are key factors to improve outcome

Changes in Heart Rate and Its Regulation by the Autonomic Nervous System Do Not Differ Between Forced and Voluntary Exercise in Mice

Most exercise studies in mice have relied on forced training which can introduce psychological stress. Consequently, the utility of mouse models for understanding exercise-mediated effects in humans, particularly autonomic nervous system (ANS) remodeling, have been challenged. We compared the effects of voluntary free-wheel running vs. non-voluntary swimming on heart function in mice with a focus on the regulation of heart rate (HR) by the ANS. Under conditions where the total excess O2 consumption associated with exercise was comparable, the two exercise models led to similar improvements in ventricular function as well as comparable reductions in HR and its control by parasympathetic nervous activity (PNA) and sympathetic nervous activity (SNA), compared to sedentary mice. Both exercise models also increased HR variability (HRV) by similar amounts, independent of HR reductions. In all mice, HRV depended primarily on PNA, with SNA weakly affecting HRV at low frequencies. The differences in both HR and HRV between exercised vs. sedentary mice were eliminated by autonomic blockade, consistent with the similar intrinsic beating rates observed in atria isolated from exercised vs. sedentary mice. In conclusion, both forced and voluntary exercise induce comparable ventricular physiological remodeling as well as HR reductions and HR-independent enhancements of HRV which were both primarily dependent on increased PNA.New and noteworthy–No previous mouse studies have compared the effects of forced and voluntary exercise on the heart function and its modulation by the autonomic nervous system (ANS).–Both voluntary free-wheel running and forced swimming induced similar improvements in ventricular contractile function, reductions in heart rate (HR) and enhancements of HR variability (HRV).–HR regulation in exercised mice was linked to increased parasympathetic nerve activity and reduced sympathetic nerve activity.– HRV was independent of HR and depended primarily on PNA in both exercised and sedentary mice.– Complete cardiac autonomic blockade eliminated differences in both HR and HRV between exercised and sedentary mice

Igralište i tjelesna aktivnost za vrijeme školskog odmora u osnovnim školama

The aim of the present study was to describe the daily physical activity (PA) during recess of primary-school children and its relationship with the play area and their age. 738 children (8.5±1.7 years, range six to eleven years) participated in the study. The playground recess PA of each child was measured using accelerometry. An ANOVA was used to determine the differences in PA by play area (large >15 m2/child and small area <8 m2/child) in each age group. In general, the children in larger play areas were more active than the children in small play areas (effect size=.36). This difference was larger in nine-year (effect size =.81), ten-year (effect size =.60) and eleven-year old children (effect size =.55). It seems necessary to carry out strategies that provide a greater opportunity for PA in small playgrounds with a high density of children.Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio opisati dnevnu tjelesnu aktivnost osnovnoškolske djece za vrijeme školskog odmora i utvrditi njezinu povezanost s veličinom igrališta i dobi djece. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 738 djece (8,5±1,7 godina, raspon godina 6–11 godina). Tjelesna aktivnost svakog djeteta na školskom igralištu za vrijeme školskog odmora mjerena je akcelerometrom. Za utvrđivanje razlika između razine tjelesne aktivnosti prema veličini površine igrališta u svakoj dobnoj grupi (veliko igralište >15m2/dijete i malo igralište >8m2/dijete) korištena je ANOVA. Općenito, djeca koja su provodila školski odmor na velikom igralištu bila su tjelesno aktivnija od djece koja su provodila školski odmor na malom igralištu. Razlika je bila veća u devetogodišnje (veličina efekta=0,81), desetogodišnje (veličina efekta=0,60) i jedanaestogodišnje djece (veličina efekta=0,55). Istraživanje pokazuje da je potrebno provesti strateške promjene koje bi omogućile povećanje tjelesne aktivnosti na manjim igralištima na kojima se odmara veći broj djece

Een veerkrachtig Markermeer: van wat naar wat?

In het IJsselmeergebied wordt gestreefd naar een robuust ecosysteem dat veerkrachtig genoeg is om klimaatverandering op te vangen en tegelijkertijd ruimte biedt aan economische ontwikkelingen. Met het project ‘Veerkracht Grote Wateren’ is er nu een raamwerk ontwikkeld dat het begrip veerkracht hanteerbaar maakt. Het raamwerk biedt strategieën om de veerkracht te vergroten en ondersteunt bij het monitoren van de gebiedsdoelen. Hiermee kunnen de ambities van de Gebiedsagenda IJsselmeergebied en de Programmatische Aanpak Grote Wateren (PAGW) worden geoperationaliseerd