Parametrically excited surface waves in magnetic fluids: observation of domain structures

Observations of parametrically excited surface waves in a magnetic fluid are presented. Under the influence of a magnetic field these waves have a non--monotonic dispersion relation, which leads to a richer behavior than in ordinary liquids. We report observation of three novel effects, namely: i) domain structures, ii) oscillating defects and iii) relaxational phase oscillations.Comment: to be published in Physical Review Letter

Ezekiel and the Covenant of Friendship

The slippery idea of "spirituality" might, with care, be put to use by biblical exegetes. Spirituality is defined in this paper as the social enactment of religious ideas. Four categories are offered to analyze the biblical witness as a record of spirituality. These categories are, first, an ultimate end; second, an ideal self-image by which this end might be achieved; third, an encoding of teachings in Scripture by which the self-image can be realized or understood; and fourth, a proposal for a way of life that makes achievement of the ultimate end a practical possibility. Accordingly, Ezekiel's "spirituality" may be understood to have, on one hand, an ultimate end of a return of the people to the land with the presence of God; and on the other, an ideal self-image of conversion of the community toward this ultimate end. Then it encodes, in oracles of judgment and deliverance, teachings that enable adherents to form the ideal self-image, and finally, as a way of life that puts these teachings into practice, it proposes a "covenant of friendship" (Ezek 34:25 and 37:36) among the exiled people and between them and their captors.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66911/2/10.1177_014610799202200402.pd

Exponential distribution of long heart beat intervals during atrial fibrillation and their relevance for white noise behaviour in power spectrum

The statistical properties of heart beat intervals of 130 long-term surface electrocardiogram recordings during atrial fibrillation (AF) are investigated. We find that the distribution of interbeat intervals exhibits a characteristic exponential tail, which is absent during sinus rhythm, as tested in a corresponding control study with 72 healthy persons. The rate of the exponential decay lies in the range 3-12 Hz and shows diurnal variations. It equals, up to statistical uncertainties, the level of the previously uncovered white noise part in the power spectrum, which is also characteristic for AF. The overall statistical features can be described by decomposing the intervals into two statistically independent times, where the first one is associated with a correlated process with 1/f noise characteristics, while the second one belongs to an uncorrelated process and is responsible for the exponential tail. It is suggested to use the rate of the exponential decay as a further parameter for a better classification of AF and for the medical diagnosis. The relevance of the findings with respect to a general understanding of AF is pointed out

Heavy metals in the irrigation water, soils and vegetables in the Philippi horticultural area in the Western Cape Province of South Africa

The aims of this study were to investigate the extent of heavy metal contamination in the Philippi horticultural area in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in the irrigation water, soils and vegetables in both winter and summer cropping seasons with an ICP-AES and tested against certified standards. Differences were found in heavy metal concentrations between the winter and summer cropping seasons in the irrigation water, soils and vegetables. Certain heavy metals exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations in the irrigation water, soils and vegetables produced in South Africa. These toxic concentrations were predominantly found in the summer cropping season for the soils and in the crops produced in winter. It is thus suggested that further studies are carried out in the Philippi horticultural area to determine the sources of the heavy metals to try and mitigate the inputs thereof and therefore reduce the amount of heavy metals entering the human food chain.ISI & Scopu

withdrawn 2017 hrs ehra ecas aphrs solaece expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation

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A Theology of Exile : Judgment/Deliverance in Jeremiah and Ezekiel

Philadelphiax, 271 p.; 23 c