Microstructured optical fibres for gas sensing: design fabrication and post-fab processing

Air/silica Microstructured Optical Fibers (MOFs) offer new prospects for fiber based sensor devices. In this paper, two topics of particular significance for gas sensing using air guiding Photonic Bandgap Fibers (PBGFs) are discussed. First, we address the issue of controlling the modal properties of PBGFs and demonstrate a single mode, polarization maintaining air guiding PBGF. Secondly, we present recent improvements of a femtosecond laser machining technique for fabricating fluidic channels in PBGFs, which allowed us to achieve cells with multiple side access channels and low additional loss

Economic globalization and the fracturing of business interest representation in the European Union

Individual firms have become the dominant lobby actors in the European Union, while associational business interest representation has declined. This is alarming because individual firms tend to overlook the long-term interests of society by focusing on what is important in the short term for their own survival. How can we explain this trend? This article argues that globalization is a key driver of firm-level lobbying and that it fractures business interest representation. The study employs an original dataset of almost 14,000 lobby contacts between senior staff of the European Commission, business interests, and NGOs. It finds support for the argument that globalization spurs individual firm lobbying in the European Union. This complicates the already challenging task of business associations aggregating and channeling the interests of their members

Energy and seismic retrofit of historic timber-framed houses in Portugal: Building predictive models in future scenarios

This research addresses the comparison of building performance before and after implementing energy and seismic retrofitting techniques within simulation models, under the current climate condition vs. predicted environment conditions (2030-2100). It aims to identify a set of feasible interventions within distinct indoor building conditions (number of inhabitants and occupancy schedule) in three design scenarios. To this end, we adopt parametric modelling tools (Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, EnergyPlus) combined with a multicriteria decision analysis (M-MACBETH, Measuring Attractiveness through a Categorical-Based Evaluation Technique). This model is tested in an historic house, a multi-storey overhanging timber-framed house in Lisbon parish, which is representative of valuable traditional construction systems in high seismic hazard zone in the Mediterranean basin. Future studies can address other building simulations evaluated against architectural, structural, environmental, and economic-related parameters. The influence of weighting on the interventions against different criteria can be addressed also considering the uncertainty about the impact of each group of intervention in sensitivity and robustness analyses.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Social contact structures and time use patterns in the Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: Patterns of person-to-person contacts relevant for infectious diseases transmission are still poorly quantified in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where socio-demographic structures and behavioral attitudes are expected to be different from those of more developed countries. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a diary-based survey on daily contacts and time-use of individuals of different ages in one rural and one peri-urban site of Manicaland, Zimbabwe. A total of 2,490 diaries were collected and used to derive age-structured contact matrices, to analyze time spent by individuals in different settings, and to identify the key determinants of individuals' mixing patterns. Overall 10.8 contacts per person/day were reported, with a significant difference between the peri-urban and the rural site (11.6 versus 10.2). A strong age-assortativeness characterized contacts of school-aged children, whereas the high proportion of extended families and the young population age-structure led to a significant intergenerational mixing at older ages. Individuals spent on average 67% of daytime at home, 2% at work, and 9% at school. Active participation in school and work resulted the key drivers of the number of contacts and, similarly, household size, class size, and time spent at work influenced the number of home, school, and work contacts, respectively. We found that the heterogeneous nature of home contacts is critical for an epidemic transmission chain. In particular, our results suggest that, during the initial phase of an epidemic, about 50% of infections are expected to occur among individuals younger than 12 years and less than 20% among individuals older than 35 years. CONCLUSIONS: With the current work, we have gathered data and information on the ways through which individuals in SSA interact, and on the factors that mostly facilitate this interaction. Monitoring these processes is critical to realistically predict the effects of interventions on infectious diseases dynamics

Evaluation of retrofitting techniques for historical adobe constructions using a multi-criteria decision analysis: The case study of Chile

The evaluation of retrofitting techniques against multiple (often conflicting) criteria requires an expert-driven approach with in-depth context-based knowledge. This research evaluates the expected performance of retrofitting techniques for historical adobe constructions by integrating literature-data and expert assessment. Consideration is given to performance-based criteria (structural behaviour, material compatibility), values around cultural built heritage (degree of intrusion, retreatability), and local constraints (cost-effectiveness). A multi-criteria decision analysis using MACBETH (Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical-Based Evaluation TecHnique) is undertaken in this study in order to facilitate the selection process for retrofitting techniques within distinct damage scenarios. The MACBETH model is applied to three historical adobe buildings in Chile using a weighted criteria matrix, while a sensitivity analysis is conducted to determine the stability of interventions. The best-scoring options for each damage pattern are then compared with national guidelines and the current practice. Among the best-ranking solutions obtained from MACBETH models, the use of wooden corner keys makes it possible to effectively counteract flexural cracks or mid-height cracks, damage at intersections of perpendicular walls, corner-damage vertical cracks, and in-plane damage. Wooden tie beams are effective solutions for corner-damage vertical cracks. Geo-mesh also obtains a high score yet is limited by its cost and low reversibility.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Fire-eater’s pneumonitis

Fire-eater’s pneumonitis, also known as ‘fireeater’s lung’, is an acute inflammatory response of the lungs to the accidental aspiration, during the show, of ‘pyrofluids’ or kerdan [1-9]. Kerdan is composed of petroleum-distilled products like toluene, xylene, ethilbenzene which differ from kerosene composition. Kerdan is characterised by its reduced viscosity and, unfortunately, by its rapid diffusion throughout the bronchial tree after sudden accidental aspiration [7]. Histological findings (not easily available in the literature) show necrotising acute bronchiolitis and necrotising acute fibrinous pneumonia, as previously reported in experimental models [10]. Despite the severe initial presentation, ‘fire-eater’s lung’ usually has a favourable evolution with ‘restitutio ad integrum’ of pulmonary functions [7]

Modeling impact of Conservation Agriculture adoption on farming systems agricultural incomes. The case of Lake Alaotra Region, Madagascar

Conservation Agriculture (CA) was introduced at the lake Alaotra, in Madagascar, in the 2000's in a context of traditionnal mining upland agriculture and silting-up of lowlands rice fields. Land tenure pressure linked to the attractiveness of the area lead to the progressive colonization of surrounding upland hills (Tanety), very sensitive to erosion. Conservation agriculture tackles with a double challenges: i) maintain and/or increase household income and ii) preserve natural resources through sustainable agricultural practices in the long term. This paper assesses the economic impact of CA adoption on farmers's income trough modeling representative farms selected according to a local typology, based on the last 5 years with a prospective analysis for the next 5 years. The BV-lac Project Field database highlighted a light increase of yield according to the age of CA systems. A buffering effect on climate hazards has been as well identified trough production stability over the years leading to adoption as part of a risk limiting strategy. Elements of the CA techniques are adopted spontaneously within surrounding farming systems leading to improvment of conventionnal tillage based systems. Smallholders agricultural practices evolution displays a high capacity for innovation. Modeling with a dedidated tool (Olympe is a budget analysis oriented tool) has highlighted that CA systems improve significantly net farm income in the midterm (5 to 10 years) and gross margin at plot scale. For farm holdings with few irrigated rice fields, mainly relying on upland agriculture, CA systems increase farming systems resilience to climatic events and price volatility as well as sustainable agricultural practices maintaining local and fragile ressources

High efficiency somatic embryogenesis and plant germination in grapevine cultivars Chardonnay and Brachetto a grappolo lungo

A highly efficient, reproducible method for somatic embryogenesis induction, plant recovery and embryogenic culture preservation has been developed for cvs Chardonnay and Brachetto a grappolo lungo (Vitis vinifera), starting from immature anthers and ovaries. Embryogenic induction efficiency was 2 % and 17 % in anthers for Chardonnay and Brachetto g.l., respectively, and 14 % in ovaries for both cultivars. Embryogenic cultures of both genotypes are still propagating 3.5 years after the initial induction and are still morphogenic. Embryo conversion into plantlets occurred at suitable efficiencies during a 100 d culture for both Chardonnay (37 % and 15 %) and Brachetto g.l. (30 % and 29 %), in the two media tested. Organogenesis was also obtained from cotyledonary leaves of Chardonnay.

Understanding wavelength scaling in 19-cell core hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers

First experimental wavelength scaling in 19-cell core HC-PBGF indicates that the minimum loss waveband occurs at longer wavelengths than previously predicted. Record low loss (2.5dB/km) fibers operating around 2µm and gas-purging experiments are also reported