1,928 research outputs found
Hierarchical priority setting for restoration in a watershed in NE Spain, based on assessments of soil erosion and ecosystem services
31 pĂĄginas[EN] Maintaining and enhancing ecosystem services through the restoration of degraded ecosystems have become an important biodiversity conservation strategy. Deciding where to restore ecosystems for the attainment of multiple services is a key issue for future planning, management, and human well-being. Most restoration projects usually entail a small number of actions in a local area and do not consider the potential benefits of planning restoration at broad regional scales. We developed a hierarchical priority setting approach to evaluate the performance of restoration measures in a semiarid basin in NE Spain (the MartĂn River Basin, 2,112 km2). Our analysis utilized a combination of erosion (a key driver of degradation in this Mediterranean region) and six spatially explicit ecosystem services data layers (five of these maps plotted surrogates for soil retention and accumulation, water supply and regulation, and carbon storage, and one plotted a cultural service, ecotourism). Hierarchical maps were generated using a geographic information system that combined areas important for providing a bundle of ecosystem services, as state variables, with erosion maps, as the disturbance or regulatory variable. This was performed for multiple scales, thereby identifying the most adequate scale of analysis and establishing a spatial hierarchy of restoration actions based on the combination of the evaluation of erosion rates and the provision of ecosystem services. Our approach provides managers with a straightforward method for determining the spatial distribution of values for a set of ecosystem services in relation to ecological degradation thresholds and for allocating efforts and resources for restoration projects in complex landscapes.This work was funded by Endesa S.A. through the collaborative agreement Endesa-CSIC for scientific research. The first author wants to thank Belinda Reyers for the fruitful conversation and helpfulness showed in every moment and two anonymous referees for their constructive suggestions. M. Trabucchi was in receipt of grant from JAE-DOC Program for Advanced Study financed by the European Social Fund (ESF), Ref. I3P-BPD-2006.Peer reviewe
Reversible skew laurent polynomial rings and deformations of poisson automorphisms
A skew Laurent polynomial ring S = R[x(+/- 1); alpha] is reversible if it has a reversing automorphism, that is, an automorphism theta of period 2 that transposes x and x(-1) and restricts to an automorphism gamma of R with gamma = gamma(-1). We study invariants for reversing automorphisms and apply our methods to determine the rings of invariants of reversing automorphisms of the two most familiar examples of simple skew Laurent polynomial rings, namely a localization of the enveloping algebra of the two-dimensional non-abelian solvable Lie algebra and the coordinate ring of the quantum torus, both of which are deformations of Poisson algebras over the base field F. Their reversing automorphisms are deformations of Poisson automorphisms of those Poisson algebras. In each case, the ring of invariants of the Poisson automorphism is the coordinate ring B of a surface in F-3 and the ring of invariants S-theta of the reversing automorphism is a deformation of B and is a factor of a deformation of F[x(1), x(2), x(3)] for a Poisson bracket determined by the appropriate surface
Hybridization of sub-gap states in one-dimensional superconductor/semiconductor Coulomb islands
We present measurements of one-dimensional superconductor-semiconductor
Coulomb islands, fabricated by gate confinement of a two-dimensional InAs
heterostructure with an epitaxial Al layer. When tuned via electrostatic side
gates to regimes without sub-gap states, Coulomb blockade reveals Cooper-pair
mediated transport. When sub-gap states are present, Coulomb peak positions and
heights oscillate in a correlated way with magnetic field and gate voltage, as
predicted theoretically, with (anti) crossings in (parallel) transverse
magnetic field indicating Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling. Overall results are
consistent with a picture of overlapping Majorana zero modes in finite wires
Impact of the introduction of a specialist critical care pharmacist on the level of pharmaceutical care provided to the critical care unit
Objectives To evaluate the impact of a dedicated specialist critical care pharmacist service on patient care at a UK critical care unit (CCU). Methods Pharmacist intervention data was collected in two phases. Phase 1 was with the provision of a non-specialist pharmacist chart review service and Phase 2 was after the introduction of a specialist dedicated pharmacy service. Two CCUs with established critical care pharmacist services were used as controls. The impact of pharmacist interventions on optimising drug therapy or preventing harm from medication errors was rated on a 4-point scale. Key findings There was an increase in the mean daily rate of pharmacist interventions after the introduction of the specialist critical care pharmacist (5.45 versus 2.69 per day, P < 0.0005). The critical care pharmacist intervened on more medication errors preventing potential harm and optimised more medications. There was no significant change to intervention rates at the control sites. Across all study sites the majority of pharmacist interventions were graded to have at least moderate impact on patient care. Conclusion The introduction of a specialist critical care pharmacist resulted in an increased rate of pharmacist interventions compared to a non-specialist pharmacist service thus improving the quality of patient care
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Dose volume histogram analysis of normal structures associated with accelerated partial breast irradiation delivered by high dose rate brachytherapy and comparison with whole breast external beam radiotherapy fields
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To assess the radiation dose delivered to the heart and ipsilateral lung during accelerated partial breast brachytherapy using a MammoSiteâą applicator and compare to those produced by whole breast external beam radiotherapy (WBRT).</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Dosimetric analysis was conducted on patients receiving MammoSite breast brachytherapy following conservative surgery for invasive ductal carcinoma. Cardiac dose was evaluated for patients with left breast tumors with a CT scan encompassing the entire heart. Lung dose was evaluated for patients in whom the entire lung was scanned. The prescription dose of 3400 cGy was 1 cm from the balloon surface. MammoSite dosimetry was compared to simulated WBRT fields with and without radiobiological correction for the effects of dose and fractionation. Dose parameters such as the volume of the structure receiving 10 Gy or more (V10) and the dose received by 20 cc of the structure (D20), were calculated as well as the maximum and mean doses received.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifteen patients were studied, five had complete lung data and six had left-sided tumors with complete cardiac data. Ipsilateral lung volumes ranged from 925â1380 cc. Cardiac volumes ranged from 337â551 cc. MammoSite resulted in a significantly lower percentage lung V30 and lung and cardiac V20 than the WBRT fields, with and without radiobiological correction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study gives low values for incidental radiation received by the heart and ipsilateral lung using the MammoSite applicator. The volume of heart and lung irradiated to clinically significant levels was significantly lower with the MammoSite applicator than using simulated WBRT fields of the same CT data sets.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Dana Farber Trial Registry number 03-179</p
Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Via Positive Expiratory Pressure Versus Via Jet Nebulizer in Patients With Severe Cystic Fibrosis
Coherent transport through a Majorana island in an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer
Majorana zero modes are leading candidates for topological quantum
computation due to non-local qubit encoding and non-abelian exchange
statistics. Spatially separated Majorana modes are expected to allow
phase-coherent single-electron transport through a topological superconducting
island via a mechanism referred to as teleportation. Here we experimentally
investigate such a system by patterning an elongated epitaxial InAs-Al island
embedded in an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer. With increasing parallel magnetic
field, a discrete sub-gap state in the island is lowered to zero energy
yielding persistent 1e-periodic Coulomb blockade conductance peaks (e is the
elementary charge). In this condition, conductance through the interferometer
is observed to oscillate in a perpendicular magnetic field with a flux period
of h/e (h is Planck's constant), indicating coherent transport of single
electrons through the islands, a signature of electron teleportation via
Majorana modes, could also be observed, suggesting additional non-Majorana
mechanisms for 1e transport through these moderately short wires
Preserved C-reactive protein responses to blood stream infections following tocilizumab treatment for COVID-19
Emotions and ethics: A Foucauldian framework for becoming an ethical educator
This paper provides examples of how a teacher and a principal construct their âethical selvesâ. In doing so we demonstrate how Foucault's four-part ethical framework can be a scaffold with which to actively connect emotions to a personal ethical position. We argue that ethical work is and should be an ongoing and dynamic life long process rather than a more rigid adherence to a âcode of ethicsâ that may not meaningfully engage its adherents. We use Foucault's four-part framework of ethical practice as a framework through which an âethical selfâ can be purposely constructed. This is important work, as those who have authority over others must know how to monitor themselves against the misuse of the power of their positions
Antarctic Sea Ice Area in CMIP6
Fully coupled climate models have long shown a wide range of Antarctic sea ice states and evolution over the satellite era. Here, we present a highâlevel evaluation of Antarctic sea ice in 40 models from the most recent phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Many models capture key characteristics of the mean seasonal cycle of sea ice area (SIA), but some simulate implausible historical mean states compared to satellite observations, leading to large intermodel spread. Summer SIA is consistently biased low across the ensemble. Compared to the previous model generation (CMIP5), the intermodel spread in winter and summer SIA has reduced, and the regional distribution of sea ice concentration has improved. Over 1979â2018, many models simulate strong negative trends in SIA concurrently with strongerâthanâobserved trends in global mean surface temperature (GMST). By the end of the 21st century, models project clear differences in sea ice between forcing scenarios
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