Comparing SSN Index to X-ray Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection Rates from Solar Cycles 22-24

The newly revised sunspot number series allows for placing historical geoeffective storms in the context of several hundred years of solar activity. Using statistical analyses of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) X-ray observations from the past ~30 years and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) catalog (1996-present), we present sunspot-number-dependent flare and CME rates. In particular, we present X-ray flare rates as a function of sunspot number for the past three cycles. We also show that the 1-8 AA X-ray background flux is strongly correlated with sunspot number across solar cycles. Similarly, we show that the CME properties (e.g., proxies related to the CME linear speed and width) are also correlated with sunspot number for SC 23 and 24. These updated rates will enable future predictions for geoeffective events and place historical storms in the context of present solar activity.Comment: 17 pages, accepted to Solar Physic

Solvent-free ionic liquids as in situ probes for assessing the effect of ion size on the performance of electrical double layer capacitors

The authors thank Norit for kindly supplying the activated carbon adsorbent. COA thanks MEC, Spain, for the financial support (EX2004-0612). Poznań University of Technology is also acknowledged (Project DS 32/007/2005). The help of Dr. Parra with the Modelling Software and of Dr. Khomenko in the conductivity measurements is acknowledged.Peer reviewe

Potential for Conflict Index of management options at two New Hampshire beaches

The 18 miles of New Hampshire coastline is a popular destination among recreationists, attracting millions of visitors each year. Swimming, surfing and spending time on the beach are just a few of the many activities that take place on the coast. While swimming has been utilized as a recreational activity for thousands of years, surfing has just recently become an established activity in the last few centuries. Surfing\u27s popularity continues to grow around the world and particularly in New Hampshire and on the east coast. With increasing interest in these recreational activities at the beaches and the amount of resources staying the same, the potential for conflict between surfers and swimmers appears imminent. However, little research has been done on potential conflict between surfers and swimmers. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential for conflict between the two groups in relation to five proposed management options at two different state beaches. A 26-question quantitative survey was completed by 205 participants. Descriptive statistics and the Potential for Conflict Index were used as the primary methods of statistical analysis. The results indicated there was more out-group potential conflict between surfers and swimmers than between other user groups, there was more potential conflict between out-group users than within their own groups, and surfers had the most in-group potential conflict overall. In addition, the study showed that overall beach condition evaluations were good, and that overall all groups found the proposed changes in beach management to be unacceptable

Structural feature based computational approach of toxicity prediction of ionic liquids: Cationic and anionic effects on ionic liquids toxicity

yesThe density functional theory (DFT) based a unique model has been developed to predict the toxicity of ionic liquids using structural-feature based quantum chemical reactivity descriptors. Electrophilic indices (ω), the energy of highest occupied (EHOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, (ELUMO) and energy gap (∆ E) were selected as the best toxicity descriptors of ILs via Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. The principle components analysis (PCA) demonstrated the distribution and inter-relation of descriptors of the model. A multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis on selected descriptors derived the model equation for toxicity prediction of ionic liquids. The model predicted toxicity values and mechanism are very consistent with observed toxicity. Cationic and side chains length effect are pronounced to the toxicity of ILs. The model will provide an economic screening method to predict the toxicity of a wide range of ionic liquids and their toxicity mechanism

Rozwój na granicy normy i patologii. Studium przypadku trzyletniego chłopca z wadą wzroku

Development on the edge of normality and pathology. Case-study of a three-year-old boy with visual impairment The aim of the work is to present a clinical study of a development path using the theoretical model of developmental pathways (Pickles, Hill, 2006). The subject of the study, a three-year-old boy, came into the world through complicated labor which ended in cesarean section. He displayed characteristics of insecure-avoidant attachment. Moreover, he had a visual defect. The study describes the crisis at the beginning of preschool education. Adaptive irregularities arising from these burdens, but also the lack of competence and support from the preschool staffmeant that the boy began to show features of mental disorders functioning. At this time independent specialists diagnosed mental retardation and attention defi cit with hyperactivity disorder. Through correcting the vision problems, working on the relationship, changing the preschool facility and introducing cognitive-behavioral techniques the abnormal development of the boy returned onto the correct track. The aim of the work is to show the path of corruption in the development of mental disorder in the three-year-old boy. The developmental pathways approach takes into account the role of a wide range of internal factors (biological, social and psychological) as well as external ones – environmental and those concerning the effect of time and place, both in the development of pathology, and in turning to pathology as a way to return to normal developmen

Equations in wreath products

We survey solvability of equations in wreath products of groups, and prove that the quadratic diophantine problem is solvable in wreath products of Abelian groups. We consider the related question of determining commutator width, and prove that the quadratic diophantine problem is also solvable in Baumslag’s finitely presented metabelian group. This text is a short version of an extensive article by the first-named authors

Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal lumbar sympathectomy and its clinical use

Percutaneous radiofrequency thermolesion techniques are commonly used in the treatment of chronic pain in different pain syndromes. There are many reports describing techniques of percutaneous radiofrequency thermolesion for denervation of central & spinal nerves (Mullan 1963), 1965, 1971; Rosomoff, 1966, Sweet 1974, Uematsu, 1974). Apart from the report by Pernak (1985) no other clinical studies concerning the use of the radiofrequency electrocoagulation technique for denervation of sympathetic nerves have been reported in the literature. For sympathetic denervation, neurolytic agents or surgical sympathectomy are still commonly performed and these techniques may provide prolonged pain relief (Swerdlow, 1978). Poor results occur when technical difficulties result in an incomplete sympathectomy. Neurolytic sympathectomy, using phenol or alcohol, offers the advantage of short hospitalisation and avoids the risk of surgery and need for anesthesia. Nevertheless, following both surgical and chemical sympathectomy the possibility of complications is always present (Swerdlow, 1978; Rutherford, 1977). Taking this into consideration, we have performed and developed the technique of radiofrequency thermal sympathectomy from 1982 to date. The first presentation of this technique took place at the 1st International Symposium 'The Pain Clinic' (Delft, 1984) and is described in the Proceedings of that symposium (Pernak and v.d. Berg, 1985). Slight modifications to this technique have since been made which will be outlined in this report. Knowledge of the course of the sympathetic innervation provided the idea to perform thermal radiofrequency sympathectomy at the 4th lumbar level only. However, in different pain syndromes radiofrequency sympathectomy can be performed at every level of the spine. Thermal sympathectomy can be used in those pain syndromes where hyperactivity of the sympathetic nerves is obvious. To date, more than 500 percutaneous radiofrequency thermal sympathectomies have been performed in patients with varying pain syndromes. In this study, 210 patients with different pain syndromes were selected and one criterion for selection was that all patients had obvious sympathetic hyperactivity. Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal lumbar sympathectomy (PRTLS) was performed in all these patients. This technique is described and its clinical use in the combined pain treatment of these patients in the Pain Clinic of the Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis in Delft during the period 1983-1986 is discussed. The results and conclusions are presented

Flow and Heat Transfer in Rotating Compressor Cavities with Inverted Shroud-Throughflow Temperature Differences

In an aero-engine compressor, co-rotating discs form cavities that interact with an axial throughflow of secondary air at low radius. In the high-pressure (HP) compressor the shroud is hotter than the throughflow (directed downstream to the turbine) and the radial temperature gradient creates buoyancy-induced flow at Grashof numbers ∼ 1013. Such flows can be unstable and typically take the form of counter-rotating vortex pairs separated by radial hot and cold plumes. However, in low pressure (LP) and intermediate pressure (IP) compressors the secondary air is directed upstream. In this inverse scenario the axial throughflow is hotter than the compressor discs, reversing the disc temperature gradient and eliminating the fundamental driver for buoyancy. Despite its practical application and importance, this inverse scenario has not been previously investigated. The University of Bath Compressor Cavity Rig has been uniquely designed to simulate such flows, measuring temperature and unsteady pressure in the frame of reference of the rotating discs. Bayesian and spectral analysis have determined the radial distribution of disc heat flux, as well as the asymmetry of the rotating vortex structures and their slip relative to the discs. Unexpectedly, the new data reveal the flow structure in cavities with positive and inverted temperature differences are fundamentally similar (albeit with reversed radial-temperature profiles). Isothermal cases identified a critical Rossby number (Ro), above which the flow structure in the cavity was dominated by a toroidal vortex. At sub-critical Ro, the flow structure for the inverted temperature gradient continue