THE USE OF AN IONIZATION GAGE AS A QUANTITATIVE ANALYZER FOR BIGASEOUS MIXTURES

Helium & air - ionization gauge for determining percentage composition of gaseous mixture

Gas analyzer for bi-gaseous mixtures Patent

Gas analyzer for bi-gaseous mixtures suitable for use in test facilitie

Strategies against nonsense: oxadiazoles as translational readthrough-inducing drugs (TRIDs)

This review focuses on the use of oxadiazoles as translational readthrough-inducing drugs (TRIDs) to rescue the functional full-length protein expression in mendelian genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations. These mutations in specific genes generate premature termination codons (PTCs) responsible for the translation of truncated proteins. After a brief introduction on nonsense mutations and their pathological effects, the features of various classes of TRIDs will be described discussing differences or similarities in their mechanisms of action. Strategies to correct the PTCs will be presented, particularly focusing on a new class of Ataluren-like oxadiazole derivatives in comparison to aminoglycosides. Additionally, recent results on the efficiency of new candidate TRIDs in restoring the production of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein will be presented. Finally, a prospectus on complementary strategies to enhance the effect of TRIDs will be illustrated together with a conclusive paragraph about perspectives, opportunities, and caveats in developing small molecules as TRIDs

Performance modeling of ultraviolet Raman lidar systems for daytime profiling of atmospheric water vapor

We describe preliminary results from a comprehensive computer model developed to guide optimization of a Raman lidar system for measuring daytime profiles of atmospheric water vapor, emphasizing an ultraviolet, solar-blind approach

Towards the Development of Competency Areas for Student Affairs and Services Administrators: Perspectives for Professionalization

The research is concerned primarily with establishing a set of competency areas for administrators of student affairs and services in the Philippines regardless of their area of specialization or positional role within the field. A total of twenty (20) representatives from major regions of the country participated in the study. The modified Delphi method was adopted as the process of obtaining data. There were nine competency areas presented, namely: Advising and Helping; Assessment; Evaluation, and Research; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Ethical Professional Practice; Human and Organizational Resources; Law, Policy, and Governance; Leadership; Personal Foundations; and Student Learning and Development. It was found that: (1) the competency areas mentioned were relevant regardless of educational background, number of years in service, position or job designation, organization affiliation and type of school where they were working; (2) the competency areas presented were acknowledged and perceived to be most important and/or greatly important by administrators and practitioners of Student Affairs and Services; and (3) the identified competency areas may serve as guidelines for student affairs and services administrators toward the development of the profession

Qualitative and Quantitative Beach Cleanliness Assessment to Support Marine Litter Management in Tropical Destinations

In addition to its ecological and recreational relevance, beach cleanliness is also one of the five most important aspects (i.e., the “Big Five”) for beach visitors around the world. Nonetheless, few efforts have been carried out to guide the sound management of this rising issue. This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative method to assess the level of beach cleanliness, in order to allow managers to focus their attention on the environmental management of the most frequent and relevant types of litter in tropical areas. In a first step, a survey on users’ perception was applied to 361 beachgoers in eight beaches in Colombia to identify the most relevant types of beach litter and the weighting factors to obtain quantitative calculations. In a second step, the thirteen categories of litter identified were analyzed in relation to beach cleanliness, origin of litter, and environmental impact, to define its individual weighting importance. Some categories were also selected according to particularities of tropical countries, such as the presence of abundant natural vegetation debris and gross polystyrene items, largely transported by rivers in great quantities. In a third step, the method was then tested at eight beaches in the Caribbean coast of Colombia through a period of four months, during which 192 transect samplings were carried out. The qualitative module of the proposed technique, named Beach Litter Assessment Technique—Qualitative and Quantitative (BLAT-QQ), identified the main types of beach litter and the quantitative module gave an overview on the state of beach cleanliness. The method is demonstrated to be quick and effective in diagnosing beach cleanliness, providing a simple instrument to carry out sound environmental management actions in coastal destinations

Beach Litter Assessment: Critical Issues and the Path Forward

Studies analyzing large-scale patterns or long-term trends in the amounts and composition of beach litter are often based on the analysis of several small-scale studies, which may provide an inaccurate picture if the methods and approaches used in those studies are not directly comparable. Moreover, most beach-litter review studies do not evaluate how the results are affected by a number of factors. Therefore, this paper analyzes empirical results from 62 beach-litter (BL) assessment studies published in the last decade (years 2010-2020) in peer-reviewed international journals. Both the results on beach litter (origin, composition, and density) and the utility of those findings to coastal managers are analyzed and discussed. The paper identifies strengths and weaknesses of different research designs, overall compatibility among the results of studies, and identification and means of eliminating those aspects that cause incompatibilities, inconsistencies, and high variability of data that cause low reliability of the results, among other issues. The results indicate that a global picture based on a number of small-scale studies cannot be drawn due to incompatibilities in sampling protocols and presentation of results, data analysis and interpretation, spatial and temporal differences, and the lack of understanding of factors influencing BL. This paper offers a critical view of many aspects of (BL) research in order to bring them to researchers' attention, at the same time recognizing the importance of previously published studies in making significant advancements in this field. Finally, it is also a call to move from limited data collecting and presentation in peer-reviewed journals to experimental designs, large data analyses, and testing of methods and solutions to the BL issue to advance understanding of beach-litter issues

Latin America and the Search for a Coastal Law: Lessons from the Legislative Procedure in Colombia

In 2009, a network of scholars identified the legal framework associated with coastal management in eleven Latin American countries. They found an important lag in several countries, including Colombia. According to many scholars, a clear regulatory framework is of the utmost importance for integrated coastal management; however, the hurdles to reaching this goal have been poorly analyzed. This article aims to illustrate the challenges and barriers to legislate on coastal and marine issues in Colombia. The methodology and analysis used in this study can serve as an example to other Latin American countries. We combined comparative, documentary, and analytical research techniques to describe the current Latin American state-of-the-art legal framework. Additionally, from 16,224 gazettes (official records of the Congress of Colombia) we identified 80 bills concerning coastal and marine activities for a period of 17 years. However, only 2.1% of those bills addressed marine or coastal issues from the perspective of planning and management procedures. Instead the majority focused on social uses and economic activities. This research identified the difficulties that could be faced by a country in regulating its coast from an integrated perspective. These findings could support future procedures to approve coastal laws in Latin America and other countries on the world