569 research outputs found
Interdependence of magnetism and superconductivity in the borocarbide TmNi2B2C
We have discovered a new antiferromagnetic phase in TmNi2B2C by neutron
diffraction. The ordering vector is Q_A = (0.48,0,0) and the phase appears
above a critical in-plane magnetic field of 0.9 T. The field was applied in
order to test the assumption that the zero-field magnetic structure at Q_F =
(0.094,0.094,0) would change into a c-axis ferromagnet if superconductivity
were destroyed. We present theoretical calculations which show that two effects
are important: A suppression of the ferromagnetic component of the RKKY
exchange interaction in the superconducting phase, and a reduction of the
superconducting condensation energy due to the periodic modulation of the
moments at the wave vector Q_A
Non-endothelial endothelin counteracts hypoxic vasodilation in porcine large coronary arteries
Operational river discharge forecasting in poorly gauged basins: the Kavango River Basin case study
Operational probabilistic forecasts of river discharge are essential for
effective water resources management. Many studies have addressed this topic
using different approaches ranging from purely statistical black-box
approaches to physically based and distributed modeling schemes employing
data assimilation techniques. However, few studies have attempted to develop
operational probabilistic forecasting approaches for large and poorly gauged
river basins. The objective of this study is to develop open-source software
tools to support hydrologic forecasting and integrated water resources
management in Africa. We present an operational probabilistic forecasting
approach which uses public-domain climate forcing data and a
hydrologic–hydrodynamic model which is entirely based on open-source
software. Data assimilation techniques are used to inform the forecasts with
the latest available observations. Forecasts are produced in real time for
lead times of 0–7 days. The operational probabilistic forecasts are
evaluated using a selection of performance statistics and indicators and the
performance is compared to persistence and climatology benchmarks. The
forecasting system delivers useful forecasts for the Kavango River, which
are reliable and sharp. Results indicate that the value of the forecasts is
greatest for intermediate lead times between 4 and 7 days
Operational river discharge forecasting in poorly gauged basins: the Kavango River Basin case study
Unsupervised hyperspectral data mining and bioimaging by information entropy and self-modeling curve resolution
Unsupervised estimation of the dimensionality of hyperspectral
microspectroscopy datasets containing pure and mixed spectral features, and
extraction of their representative endmember spectra, remains a challenge in
biochemical data mining. We report a new versatile algorithm building on
semi-nonnegativity constrained self-modeling curve resolution and information
entropy, to estimate the quantity of separable biochemical species from
hyperspectral microspectroscopy, and extraction of their representative
spectra. The algorithm is benchmarked with established methods from satellite
remote sensing, spectral unmixing, and clustering. To demonstrate the
widespread applicability of the developed algorithm, we collected hyperspectral
datasets using spontaneous Raman, Coherent Anti-stokes Raman Scattering and
Fourier Transform IR, of seven reference compounds, an oil-in-water emulsion,
and tissue-engineered extracellular matrices on poly-L-lactic acid and porcine
jejunum-derived small intestine submucosa scaffolds seeded with bovine
chondrocytes. We show the potential of the developed algorithm by consolidating
hyperspectral molecular information with sample microstructure, pertinent to
fields ranging from gastrophysics to regenerative medicine
Sustainable bioethanol production combining biorefinery principles using combined raw materials from wheat undersown with clover-grass
To obtain the best possible net energy balance of the bioethanol production the biomass raw materials used need to be produced with limited use of non-renewable fossil fuels. Intercropping strategies are known to maximize growth and productivity by including more than one species in the crop stand, very often with legumes as one of the components. In the present study clover-grass is undersown in a traditional wheat crop. Thereby, it is possible to increase input of symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen into the cropping systems and reduce the need for fertilizer applications. Furthermore, when using such wheat and clover-grass mixtures as raw material, addition of urea and other fermentation nutrients produced from fossil fuels can be reduced in the whole ethanol manufacturing chain. Using second generation ethanol technology mixtures of relative proportions of wheat straw and clover-grass (15:85, 50:50, and 85:15) were pretreated by wet oxidation. The results showed that supplementing wheat straw with clover-grass had a positive effect on the ethanol yield in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation experiments, and the effect was more pronounced in inhibitory substrates. The highest ethanol yield (80% of theoretical) was obtained in the experiment with high fraction (85%) of clover-grass. In order to improve the sugar recovery of clover-grass, it should be separated into a green juice (containing free sugars, fructan, amino acids, vitamins and soluble minerals) for direct fermentation and a fibre pulp for pretreatment together with wheat straw. Based on the obtained results a decentralized biorefinery concept for production of biofuel is suggested emphasizing sustainability, localness, and recycling principle
Variation in NOD2 Augments Th2- and Th17 Responses to Myelin Basic Protein in Multiple Sclerosis
Variations in the gene for the nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain (NOD) 2 have been associated with Crohn's disease but not multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we investigate the effect of three polymorphisms in the NOD2 gene (rs5743277, rs2066842 and rs5743291) on cytokine production and CD4+ T cell proliferation elicited by human myelin basic protein (MBP) in blood mononuclear cell (MNC) cultures from 29 patients with MS. No polymorphism was observed at rs5743277. No associations with the rs2066842 polymorphism were found. Concerning rs5743291, none were homozygous for the minor allele. Seven of 29 (24%) patients were heterozygous, and five of these (71%) exhibited increased MBP-induced CD4+ T cell proliferation versus four of 22 (18%), who were homozygous for the major allele (p<0.04). Interleukin (IL)-5 was induced by MBP in MNC from the same five carriers versus two (9%) homozygotes (p<0.004); four carriers (57%) versus three non-carriers (14%) exhibited IL-17 responses to MBP (p<0.04). By contrast, we found no association between the polymorphisms investigated and interferon-gamma-, tumor necrosis factor-alpha-, IL-2, -4- or IL-10 responses to MBP. These results indicate that the rs5743291 polymorphism influences T helper (Th) cell 2- and Th17 cell responses in MNC from MS patients
Analysis of skeletal muscle tissue expression profiles in pig to identify genes involved in meat qualit\ue0 traits: effect of stress conditions bifore slaughtering in different pig breeds
Associations of Plasma Nitrite, L-Arginine and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine With Morbidity and Mortality in Patients With Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
Sex and the Cinema: What American Pie Teaches the Young
This paper focuses upon the wildly successful blockbuster American Pie teenpics, especially American Pie 3 – the Wedding. I argue that these films, which are sited so securely within the visual and pedagogical machinery of Hollywood culture, are specifically designed to appeal to teenage male audiences, and to provide lessons in sex and romance. Movies like this are especially important as they are experienced by far more teenagers than, for example, instructional films or other classroom materials; indeed, as Henry Giroux has observed, "teens and youth learn how to define themselves outside of the traditional sites of instruction, such as the home and the school… Learning in the postmodern age is located elsewhere – in popular spheres that shape their identities, through forms of knowledge and desires that appear absent from what is taught in schools" (Giroux, 1997, p.49). In this paper I discuss whether the American Pie series is actually a "new age" effort which, via insubordinate performances of gender, contests the hegemonic field of signification which regulates the production of sex, gender and desire, or whether it is more accurately described as a retrogressive hetero-conservative opus with a veneer of sexual radicalism. In short, I intend to probe whether this filmic vector for sex education is all about the shaping of responsible, caring, vulnerable men, or is it guiding them to become just like their heterosexual, middle-class fathers? And whether, despite its riotous and raunchy advertising, American Pie really dishes up something spicy or something terribly wholesome instead
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