16,917 research outputs found
Thermal evolution and structure models of the transiting super-Earth GJ 1214b
The planet GJ 1214b is the second known super-Earth with a measured mass and
radius. Orbiting a quiet M-star, it receives considerably less mass-loss
driving X-ray and UV radiation than CoRoT-7b, so that the interior may be quite
dissimilar in composition, including the possibility of a large fraction of
water. We model the interior of GJ 1214b assuming a two-layer (envelope+rock
core) structure where the envelope material is either H/He, pure water, or a
mixture of H/He and H2O. Within this framework we perform models of the thermal
evolution and contraction of the planet. We discuss possible compositions that
are consistent with Mp=6.55 ME, Rp=2.678 RE, an age tau=3-10 Gyr, and the
irradiation level of the atmosphere. These conditions require that if water
exists in the interior, it must remain in a fluid state, with important
consequences for magnetic field generation. These conditions also require the
atmosphere to have a deep isothermal region extending down to 80-800 bar,
depending on composition. Our results bolster the suggestion of a
metal-enriched H/He atmosphere for the planet, as we find water-world models
that lack an H/He atmosphere to require an implausibly large water-to-rock
ratio of more than 6:1. We instead favor a H/He/H2O envelope with high water
mass fraction (~0.5-0.85), similar to recent models of the deep envelope of
Uranus and Neptune. Even with these high water mass fractions in the H/He
envelope, generally the bulk composition of the planet can have subsolar
water:rock ratios. Dry, water-enriched, and pure water envelope models differ
to an observationally significant level in their tidal Love numbers k2 of
respectively ~0.018, 0.15, and 0.7.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, accepted to Ap
Myrtaceae, a cache of fungal biodiversity
Twenty-six species of microfungi are treated, the majority of which are associated with leaf spots of Corymbia, Eucalyptus and Syzygium spp. (Myrtaceae). The treated species include three new genera, Bagadiella, Foliocryphia and Pseudoramichloridium, 20 new species and one new combination. Novelties on Eucalyptus include: Antennariella placitae, Bagadiella lunata, Cladoriella rubrigena, C. paleospora, Cyphellophora eucalypti, Elsinoë eucalypticola, Foliocryphia eucalypti, Leptoxyphium madagascariense, Neofabraea eucalypti, Polyscytalum algarvense, Quambalaria simpsonii, Selenophoma australiensis, Sphaceloma tectificae, Strelitziana australiensis and Zeloasperisporium eucalyptorum. Stylaspergillus synanamorphs are reported for two species of Parasympodiella, P. eucalypti sp. nov. and P. elongata, while Blastacervulus eucalypti, Minimedusa obcoronata and Sydowia eucalypti are described from culture. Furthermore, Penidiella corymbia and Pseudoramichloridium henryi are newly described on Corymbia, Pseudocercospora palleobrunnea on Syzygium and Rachicladosporium americanum on leaf litter. To facilitate species identification, as well as determine phylogenetic relationships, DNA sequence data were generated from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, 5.8S nrDNA, ITS2) and the 28S nrDNA (LSU) regions of all taxa studie
Residential Water Consumption: A Cross Country Analysis
Survey data from over 1,600 households in ten countries were used to analyse the determinants of residential water demand. Results show that in every country the price elasticity is negative and statistically significant. Households that do not have to pay for the water they use (volumetric water charges) consume about a third more water than similar households that do have to pay such charges. Consumers’ attitudes do not have a statistically significant effect on total water use, although they do increase the probability of households using some water saving behaviours. Volumetric water charges also have an impact on the adoption of water saving actions. Full-cost water pricing appears to be a highly effective instrument to manage residential water demand.water demand, water consumption, water pricing, Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, C21, Q25, Q50,
Regular graphs with four eigenvalues
AbstractWe study the connected regular graphs with four distinct eigenvalues. Properties and feasibility conditions of the eigenvalues are found. Several examples, constructions and characterizations are given, as well as some uniqueness and nonexistence results
Liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen boost/vane pump for the advanced orbit transfer vehicles auxiliary propulsion system
A rotating, positive displacement vane pump with an integral boost stage was designed to pump saturated liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for auxiliary propulsion system of orbit transfer vehicle. This unit is designed to ingest 10% vapor by volume, contamination free liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The final pump configuration and the predicted performance are included
Evaluation of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the Identification of Group B Streptococcus.
Objective
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Intrapartum antibiotics given to women carrying GBS are an effective means of reducing disease in the first week of life. Rapid and reliable tests are needed to accurately identify GBS from these women for timely intrapartum antibiotic administration to prevent neonatal disease. Many laboratories now use matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) by direct plating or cell lysis for the identification of GBS isolates. The cell lysis step increases time to results for clinical samples and is more complex to perform. Therefore, we seek to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the quicker and more rapid direct plating method in identifying GBS.
Results
We directly compared swab isolates analysed by both direct plating and cell lysis method and demonstrated that direct plating has a sensitivity and specificity of 0.97 and 1, respectively, compared to an additional cell lysis step. We demonstrated that MALDI-TOF MS can be successfully used for batch processing by the direct plating method which saves time. These results are reassuring for laboratories worldwide who seek to identify GBS from swabs samples as quickly as possible
Digital twin for 5G and beyond
Although many countries have started the initial phase of rolling out 5G, it is still in its infancy with researchers from both academia and industry facing the challenges of developing to its full potential. With the support of Artificial Intelligence, development of digital transformation through the notion of a ‘Digital Twin’ has been taking off in many industries such as smart manufacturing, oil & gas, constructions, bio-engineering, and automotive. However, Digital Twins remain relatively new for 5G networks, despite the obvious potential in helping develop and deploy the complex 5G environment. This paper looks into these topics and discusses how Digital Twin could be a powerful tool to fulfil the potentials of 5G networks and beyond
Community Pharmacists’ Perception of the Relevance of Drug Package Insert as Source of Drug Information in Southwestern Nigeria
Purpose: To evaluate the opinions of community pharmacists on the usefulness and reliability of drug package inserts (DPI) as drug information source, and necessary modifications needed to improve theircontents.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study using a pretested questionnaire was administered to sixty-one superintendent community pharmacists (CP) across two cities in southwestern Nigeria. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the data and evaluate respondents’ opinion. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the rank variables with p < 0.05 considered significant.Results: A majority of CP believed that information from DPI was precise and may be helpful in achieving therapeutic success (n = 42; 72.8 %). CP believed there is need for the modification of DPI content with respect to patient-related information (n = 52; 92.8 %) and health provider-relatedinformation (n = 52; 94.5%), non-uniformity of information on the same generic medicines (n = 31; 50.8 %), and ambiguity of content (n = 29; 47.5 %). Years of experience in practice significantly influenced respondents’ perception of precision and satisfaction with DPI as source of information.Conclusions: Community pharmacists in southwestern Nigeria believed that a properly modified drug package insert could be a useful and reliable source of drug information in daily practice.Keywords: Community pharmacist, Drug information, Drug package inser
- …