Analysis of conditions for operating the S193 Rad/Scat in the solar pointing mode

The S193 Rad/Scat, although initially programmed for operating in the earth pointing mode, can be operated in the solar pointing mode as well. The usual coordinate systems for describing the S193 in orbit are defined. The instructions for the operation of the radiometer and scatterometer are presented in terms of standard Euler angles for these coordinate systems. A sample analysis for the scatterometer is described. The relationships between the various Euler angles and physically meaningful orbit parameters are defined

The Most Severe Test for Hydrophobicity Scales: Two Proteins with 88% Sequence Identity but Different Structure and Function

Protein-protein interactions (protein functionalities) are mediated by water, which compacts individual proteins and promotes close and temporarily stable large-area protein-protein interfaces. In their classic paper Kyte and Doolittle (KD) concluded that the "simplicity and graphic nature of hydrophobicity scales make them very useful tools for the evaluation of protein structures". In practice, however, attempts to develop hydrophobicity scales (for example, compatible with classical force fields (CFF) in calculating the energetics of protein folding) have encountered many difficulties. Here we suggest an entirely different approach, based on the idea that proteins are self-organized networks, subject to finite-scale criticality (like some network glasses). We test this proposal against two small proteins that are delicately balanced between alpha and alpha/beta structures, with different functions encoded with only 12% of their amino acids. This example explains why protein structure prediction is so challenging, and it provides a severe test for the accuracy and content of hydrophobicity scales. The new method confirms KD's evaluation, and at the same time suggests that protein structure, dynamics and function can be best discussed without using CFF

Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Shifts m Paramagnetic PuF4

Plutonium tetrafluoride has so far not b een investigated by NMR through such a study might y ield additional information on the electronic structure of the fluorides of the actinide elements. PuF, which is isostructural with UF,1, CeF4 , ThF4 , NpF,., HfF ,, and ZrF4 was prepared b y hydrofluorination of plu·tonium dioxide at 600 ° C. The hydrogen fluoride had b een previously treated with elemental fluorine and purified by subsequent distillations. The formation of plutonium trifluoride was prevented by a small addition of oxygen

Modified diatomites for Fenton-like oxidation of phenol

Raw diatomites were modified by acid or base treatments; addition of Fe or Cu species through the incipient wet impregnation method (IWI) and calcination at 700 °C. Samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), Mossbauer spectroscopy, point of zero charge (PZC), pyridine temperature programme desorption (TPD), themogravimetric analysis (TGA) and BET surface area determination. According to characterization results, four samples were selected: simply calcined Diatom (D), iron added (Fe-D), acid treated Fe reimpregnated (H-Fe-D) and copper added (Cu/Fe-D). Materials were tested as catalysts for the peroxidation of phenol solutions (1000 mg/L) in a batch laboratory reactor, at different operating conditions in 5 h tests. D, Fe-D and H-Fe-D samples allowed complete phenol removal under all the operating range studied. At optimum conditions, TOC conversions of 50–55% were obtained. Metal ions added through the IWI procedure resulted more labile than metal present originally. The acidic treatment favored the initiation of the reaction showing a reduction of the induction period at almost neutral initial pH. The Fe-D catalyst exhibited poor performance, lower reactions rates and higher Fe leaching. Conversely, high TOC conversions (80%) were achieved with Cu/Fe-D, however, Cu leaching was excessive (12.7%). D and H-Fe-D samples were used in consecutive runs (up to 20 h) maintaining phenol conversion and TOC reduction. Overall, a good performance was obtained, even comparable to more sophisticated Fe catalysts.Fil: Inchaurrondo, Natalia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, Cinthia Paula. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Seguridad Nuclear y Ambiente. Gerencia de Química (CAC); Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zerjav, G.. National Institute Of Chemistry; EsloveniaFil: Font, J.. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; EspañaFil: Pintar, A.. National Institute Of Chemistry; EsloveniaFil: Haure, Patricia Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin

Patch size drives colonization by aquatic insects, with minor priority effects of a cohabitant

Patch size is one of the most important factors affecting the distribution and abundance of species, and recent research has shown that patch size is an important niche dimension affecting community structure in aquatic insects. Building on this result, we examined the impact of patch size in conjunction with presence of larval anurans on colonization by aquatic insects. Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope\u27s gray treefrog) larvae are abundant and early colonists in fishless lentic habitats, and these larvae can fill multiple ecological roles. By establishing larvae in mesocosms prior to colonization, we were able to assess whether H. chrysoscelis larvae have priority effects on aquatic insect assemblages. We conducted a series of three experiments in naturally colonized experimental landscapes to test whether (1) H. chrysoscelis larval density affects insect colonization, (2) variation in patch size affects insect colonization, and (3) the presence and larval density of H. chrysoscelis shift colonization of insects between patches of different size. Larval density independently had almost no effect on colonization, while patch size had species-specific effects consistent with prior work. When larvae and patch size were tested in conjunction, patch size had numerous, often strong, species-specific effects on colonization; larval density had effects largely limited to the assemblages of colonizing beetles and water bugs, with few effects on individual species. Higher larval densities in large mesocosms shifted some insect colonization to smaller patches, resulting in higher beta diversity among small patches in proximity to high density large mesocosms. This indicates establishing H. chrysoscelis larvae prior to insect colonization can likely create priority effects that slightly shape insect communities. Our results support the importance of patch size in studying species abundances and distributions and also indicate that colonization order plays an important role in determining the communities found within habitat patches

Temperature but not nutrient addition affects abundance and assemblage structure of colonizing aquatic insects

Abiotic conditions are important considerations in the species sorting process, which ultimately determines the distribution and abundance of species. Freshwater ecosystems will be impacted by ongoing temperature rise and other anthropogenically induced changes, such as nutrient enrichment and eutrophication. Changing characteristics of freshwater habitats will likely impact organisms in numerous ways, including through effects on colonization dynamics. Species are expected to colonize habitat patches where fitness will be the highest for themselves and their offspring, and how habitat selection interacts with changing environments remains an important question. We conducted a warming experiment to test the habitat selection preferences of aquatic beetles and hemipterans between habitat patches (mesocosms) of varying temperatures (via heaters), nutrient addition, and their interaction. Overall, insect abundance and richness were higher in unheated patches, with taxon-specific variation in response to heating. Although nutrients had limited effects on environmental conditions in mesocosms, their addition had no significant effects on insects. Insect assemblages had unique structures across heating treatments, with lower beta diversity and higher effective numbers of species in the warmest mesocosms. Our data support the importance of spatial variation in abiotic factors during the habitat selection process, and in determining species distributions and abundances as shallow lentic ecosystems are impacted by rising global temperatures

Biomechanical Tolerance of Whole Lumbar Spines in Straightened Posture Subjected to Axial Acceleration

Quantification of biomechanical tolerance is necessary for injury prediction and protection of vehicular occupants. This study experimentally quantified lumbar spine axial tolerance during accelerative environments simulating a variety of military and civilian scenarios. Intact human lumbar spines (T12‐L5) were dynamically loaded using a custom‐built drop tower. Twenty‐three specimens were tested at sub‐failure and failure levels consisting of peak axial forces between 2.6 and 7.9 kN and corresponding peak accelerations between 7 and 57 g. Military aircraft ejection and helicopter crashes fall within these high axial acceleration ranges. Testing was stopped following injury detection. Both peak force and acceleration were significant (p \u3c 0.0001) injury predictors. Injury probability curves using parametric survival analysis were created for peak acceleration and peak force. Fifty‐percent probability of injury (95%CI) for force and acceleration were 4.5 (3.9–5.2 kN), and 16 (13–19 g). A majority of injuries affected the L1 spinal level. Peak axial forces and accelerations were greater for specimens that sustained multiple injuries or injuries at L2–L5 spinal levels. In general, force‐based tolerance was consistent with previous shorter‐segment lumbar spine testing (3–5 vertebrae), although studies incorporating isolated vertebral bodies reported higher tolerance attributable to a different injury mechanism involving structural failure of the cortical shell. This study identified novel outcomes with regard to injury patterns, wherein more violent exposures produced more injuries in the caudal lumbar spine. This caudal migration was likely attributable to increased injury tolerance at lower lumbar spinal levels and a faster inertial mass recruitment process for high rate load application. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA

Patch size as a niche dimension: Aquatic insects behaviorally partition enemy-free space across gradients of patch size

© 2019 by University of Chicago. Positive correlation of species richness with area is ubiquitous in nature, but the processes driving that relationship, as well as those constraining typical patterns, remain elusive. Patch size variation is pervasive in natural systems, and it is thus critical to understand how variation in patch size, as well as its potential interaction with factors like predation and isolation, affects community assembly. We crossed patch quality (fish presence/absence) with patch size to the examine effects of quality, size, and their interaction on colonization by aquatic insects. Overall, beetles favored small, fishless patches, but individual species sorted across patch size while hemipterans aggregated into large, fishless patches, producing sorting between Coleoptera and Hemiptera. Both patch size and predation risk generated significant variation in community structure and diversity. Patch size preferences for the 14 most abundant species and preeminence of species turnover in patterns of β-diversity reinforce patch size as a driver of regional species sorting via habitat selection. Species sorting at the immigration stage plays a critical role in community assembly. Identifying patch size as a component of perceived quality establishes patch size as a critical niche dimension and alters our view of its role in assembly dynamics and the maintenance of local and regional diversity

An advanced 3D multi-body system model for the human lumbar spine

Series : Mechanisms and machine science, ISSN 2211-0984, vol. 24A novel 3D multi-body system model of the human lumbar spine is presented, allowing the dynamic study of the all set but also to access mechanical demands, characteristics and performance under work of the individual intervertebral discs. An advanced FEM analysis was used for the most precise characterization of the disc 6DOF mechanical behavior, in order to build up a tool capable of predicting and assist in the design of disc recovery strategies – namely in the development of replace-ment materials for the degenerated disc nucleus – as well as in the analysis of variations in the me-chanical properties (disorders) at disc level or kinematic structure (e.g. interbody fusion, pedicle fixa-tion, etc.), and its influence in the overall spine dynamics and at motion segments individual level. Preliminary results of the model, at different levels of its development, are presented

Tjelesne osobine sivog vuka (Canis lupus L.)

Svrha ovoga rada je dobivanje prosječnih vrijednosti tjelesnih mjera sivog vuka (Canis lupus L.) u Hrvatskoj s ciljem njihovog razlikovanja po pojedinim dobnim kategorijama. Na području Gorskog kotara, Like i Dalmacije sakupljana su tijela nađenih vukova stradalih od različitih uzroka. Mjereno je 23 tjelesnih parametara, a zbog spolnog dimorfizma kod mužjaka je mjereno 21 mjera, a kod ženki 20 mjera. Statističkom obradom tjelesnih mjera pokazano je da mužjaci za većinu mjera imaju veće vrijednost od ženki, to jest brže napreduju u rastu. Razlike između spolova postaju sve očitije s porastom dobi životinja, da bi u odraslih jedinki bile najveće. Masa, kao jedan od pokazatelja tjelesne razvijenosti, najveća je u zimskom periodu i za mužjake i za ženke zbog veće dostupnosti plijena, dok u ostatku godine ostvaruje lagani pad