Patterning molecular scale paramagnets at Au Surface: A root to Magneto-Molecular-Electronics

Few examples of the exploitation of molecular magnetic properties in molecular electronics are known to date. Here we propose the realization of Self assembled monolayers (SAM) of a particular stable organic radical. This radical is meant to be used as a standard molecule on which to prove the validity of a single spin reading procedure known as ESR-STM. We also discuss a range of possible applications, further than ESR-STM, of magnetic monolayers of simple purely organic magnetic molecule.Comment: This preprint is currently partially under revisio

EXERGETIC ANALYSIS OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE RUNNING ON E22 AND E100

The internal combustion engine performance enhancement is a widely explored subject. Additionally, to pollutant emissions attention, reducing fuel consumption and consequently the greenhouse gas emissions is one of the leading research and development drivers for the future of the engines industry. As the technologies to increase global engine efficiency are becoming less promising (already reaching improvement limits), the next round would be developing technologies capable of recovering the energy rejected to the environment, especially by cooling and exhaust systems. The internal combustion engine efficiency is mainly assessed by its global efficiency, which consists of an energy balance. The exergy analysis enhances the classic energy analysis from the concept of maximum possible work, including the rejected energy, consisting of a handy tool for the feasibility study of energy recovery systems. This article presents and contrasts the energy and the exergy analyses of a flex-fuel internal combustion engine running on its top global efficiency condition. The boundary fuels are hydrous ethanol (E100) and gasoline blend (E22), available fuels in Brazil. The hydrous ethanol fuel properties (octane number, air-fuel ratio, and vaporization enthalpy) theoretically result in higher energetic engine efficiency than E22 in the same engine hardware, with a fixed compression ratio. Preliminary results of this study point 4,5% higher global engine efficiency running on E100 compared to E22. The higher engine energy efficiency running on E100 than E22 does not happen in the Second Law analysis. The classic exergetic efficiency, based on engine brake power, is similar for E22 and E100. The maximum exergetic efficiency, based on destroyed exergy, is 4,1% higher for E22 compared to E100. The estimation and comparison of the exergy rejected to the cooling and the exhaust systems according to the boundary fuel (about 21 kW on average in this case), is fundamental to assess the potential and the availability of any recovery system eventually implemented in the internal combustion engine

A spatial analysis of terrain features and farming styles in a disadvantaged area of Tuscany (Mugello): implications for the evaluation and the design of CAP payments

In recent times there has been a growing awareness of the role of agriculture in providing public goods and services, in particular in less favoured areas. However, since agriculture is an economic activity, its permanence implies that it should be able to generate a satisfactory income for farmers. Where this is not possible, due to natural constraints or adverse economic and market conditions, in order to maintain an adequate use of farmland it is necessary to provide public aid to farmers. In this framework, the design of proper interventions aimed to promote rural development in less favoured areas should be based on a deep knowledge at the farm and territorial level. As regards the territorial level, the RDP zoning [art. 11 Reg. Ce 1698/2005] developed by Member States on the base of the guidelines provided by the European Commission is very often not sufficient to adequately define the territorial characteristics of rural areas. The use of GIS techniques may help to handle this issue by providing a better and more detailed knowledge at the territorial level. Farm level is important insofar as aid effectiveness is usually strongly depending on the type of farm that is receiving it. Thus, a careful selection of beneficiaries could determine a more effective and efficient distribution of resources. This paper aims to provide a spatial analysis of natural constraints and types of farming style in Mugello area and to analyse their relations with CAP aid distribution. Both Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and Rural Development Programme (RDP) payments have been taken into account. The paper combines a GIS analysis of terrain features with the theoretical approach of farming styles. For this purpose, the study integrates several sources of data: the 2010 Italian Agriculture Census, the Tuscany Regional Agency for Payments in Agriculture (ARTEA) database, and land cover data from the database Corine Land Cover (CLC-06), as updated to 2007 by LAMMA (Laboratory for Environment Monitoring and Modelling). A geo-referenced database including socioeconomic attributes of farms, land use, and terrain characteristics has been generated in order to merge information at territorial and farm level. The results of this integrated analysis confirm that Mugello is a very heterogeneous area as regards terrain characteristics despite the fact that it is totally included in less favoured areas. On the other side, farm strategies and economic results seem to be related to entrepreneurial characteristics as much as to natural constraints. The analysis of Pillar I payments and RDP payments for farms located in this mountainous area shows a very complex situation where the strategies implemented by farmers of the strongest farming styles may successfully counteract natural constraints. Besides, in the Authors' opinion, the analyses performed highlight the importance of spatial analysis as a tool for evaluating how public resources are distributed on a territory, thus providing also useful information on the way this distribution could be improved, e.g. for ensuring a higher level of environmental services

Sensitivity of mangrove range limits to climate variability

Aim: Correlative distribution models have been used to identify potential climatic controls of mangrove range limits, but there is still uncertainty about the relative importance of these factors across different regions. To provide insights into the strength of climatic control of different mangrove range limits, we tested whether temporal variability in mangrove abundance increases near range limits and whether this variability is correlated with climatic factors thought to control large scale mangrove distributions. Location: North and South America. Time period: 1984–2011. Major taxa studied: Avicennia germinans, Avicennia schuaeriana, Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa. Methods: We characterized temporal variability in the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) at mangrove range limits using Landsat satellite imagery collected between 1984–2011. We characterized greening trends at each range limit, examined variability in EVI along latitudinal gradients near each range limit, and assessed correlations between changes in EVI and temperature and precipitation. Results: Spatial variability in mean EVI was generally correlated with temperature and precipitation, but the relationships were region specific. Greening trends were most pronounced at range limits in eastern North America. In these regions variability in EVI increased toward the range limit and was sensitive to climatic factors. In contrast, EVI at range limits on the Pacific coast of North America and both coasts of South America was relatively stable and less sensitive to climatic variability. Main conclusions: Our results suggest that range limits in eastern North America are strongly controlled by climate factors. Mangrove expansion in response to future warming is expected to be rapid in regions that are highly sensitive to climate variability (e.g. eastern North America), but the response in other range limits (e.g. South America) is likely to be more complex and modulated by additional factors such as dispersal limitation, habitat constraints, and/or changing climatic means rather than just extremes

Do rebreathing manoeuvres for non-invasive measurement of cardiac output during maximum exercise test alter the main cardiopulmonary parameters?

Background: Inert gas rebreathing has been recently described as an emergent reliable non-invasive method for cardiac output determination during exercise, allowing a relevant improvement of cardiopulmonary exercise test clinical relevance. For cardiac output measurements by inert gas rebreathing, specific respiratory manoeuvres are needed which might affect pivotal cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters, such as exercise tolerance, oxygen uptake and ventilation vs carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2) relationship slope. Method: We retrospectively analysed cardiopulmonary exercise testing of 181 heart failure patients who underwent both cardiopulmonary exercise testing and cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output within two months (average 16 \ub1 15 days). All patients were in stable clinical conditions (New York Heart Association I\u2013III) and on optimal medical therapy. Results: The majority of patients were in New York Heart Association Class I and II (78.8%), with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 31 \ub1 10%. No difference was found between the two tests in oxygen uptake at peak exercise (1101 (interquartile range 870\u20131418) ml/min at cardiopulmonary exercise test vs 1103 (844\u20131389) at cardiopulmonary exercise test-cardiac output) and at anaerobic threshold. However, anaerobic threshold and peak heart rate, peak workload (75 (58\u2013101) watts and 64 (42\u201390), p < 0.01) and carbon dioxide output were significantly higher at cardiopulmonary exercise testing than at cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output, whereas VE/VCO2 slope was higher at cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output (30 (27\u201335) vs 33 (28\u201337), p < 0.01). Conclusion: The similar anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake in the two tests with a lower peak workload and higher VE/VCO2 slope at cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output suggest a higher respiratory work and consequent demand for respiratory muscle blood flow secondary to the ventilatory manoeuvres. Accordingly, VE/VCO2 slope and peak workload must be evaluated with caution during cardiopulmonary exercise test+cardiac output

Student Satisfaction and Performance in an Online Teacher Certification Program

The article presents a study which demonstrates the effectiveness of an online post baccalaureate teacher certification program developed by a Wisconsin university. The case method approach employing multiple methods and multiple data sources were used to investigate the degree to which pre-service teachers were prepared to teach. It was concluded that the study supports online delivery as an effective means of teacher preparation, but it was limited in the number of students followed into their first year of teaching

Structural abnormalities of the coronary arterial wall - in addition to luminal narrowing - Affect myocardial blood flow reserve

Multislice CT provides information on coronary luminal narrowing and on the structural abnormalities of the coronary arterial wall using densitometric analysis. We sought to investigate the effects of coronary luminal narrowing, structural abnormalities of the coronary arterial wall, and cardiovascular risk factors on regional and global myocardial blood flow (MBF) reserve. Methods: We studied 68 patients (mean age ± SD, 61 ± 10 y; 41 men, 27 women) with an intermediate probability of coronary artery disease. We measured the severity of coronary stenoses and the fibroadipose, fibromuscular, and calcium components of the coronary arterial wall by 64-row multislice CT coronary angiography. We also measured regional and global MBF reserve by PET using 13N-ammonia as a flow tracer at rest and after dipyridamole. Results: One or more significant coronary stenoses (≥50% luminal narrowing) was present in 32 patients (47%), and nonsignificant stenoses were present in 15 patients (22%). Regional MBF reserve was significantly different in the territories perfused by normal coronary arteries, nonsignificant coronary stenoses, and significant coronary stenoses (P &lt; 0.001). Calcium content was higher in the coronary arteries with significant or nonsignificant stenoses (0.95% ± 1.08% and 0.73% ± 0.93%, respectively) than in those without stenoses (0.11% ± 0.38%, P &lt; 0.001). Significant coronary stenosis (P = 0.047) and calcium content (P = 0.017) were the only independent determinants of impaired regional MBF reserve using multivariate analysis. At multiple logistic regression analysis, the Framingham risk score, an index of global cardiovascular risk burden, was the only significant determinant of global MBF reserve (P = 0.028). Conclusion: Coronary stenoses and coronary calcium content independently affect regional MBF reserve. Framingham risk score is the only significant determinant of global MBF reserve. Copyright © 2011 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine, Inc

Dog skin parasite load, TLR-2, IL-10 and TNF-α expression and infectiousness

Visceral leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease that is transmitted by Lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies. Dogs are the main peri-urban reservoir of the disease, and progression of canine leishmaniosis is dependent on the type of immune response elaborated against the parasite. Type 1 immunity is characterized by effective cellular response, with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In contrast, Type 2 immunity is predominantly humoral, associated with progression of the disease and mediated by anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 10 (IL-10). Although seemly important in the dynamics of leishmaniosis, other gene products such as toll-like receptor 2 (TRL-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) exert unclear roles in the determination of the type of immune response. Given that the dog skin serves as a micro-environment for the multiplication of Leishmania spp., we investigated the parasite load and the expression of TLR-2, iNOS, IL-10 and TNF-α in the skin of 29 infected and 8 control dogs. We found that increased parasite load leads to upregulation of TLR-2, IL-10 and TNF-α, indicating that abundance of these transcripts is associated with infection. We also performed a xenodiagnosis to demonstrate that increased parasitism is a risk factor for infectiousness to sandflies

Creación y persistencia de la aversión condicionada a hojas de vid en ovino. Aplicación al pastoreo de viñedos en primavera

El pastoreo en viñedos se ve limitado por el daño que las ovejas pueden provocar en el cultivo, dada la alta palatabilidad de las hojas de vid. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue crear aversión a hojas de vid y evaluar su persistencia en ovejas (Manchega, n = 12; Lacaune, n = 12) durante tres años. El estudio incluyó la creación y validación de la aversión en condiciones experimentales en el primer año y en pastoreo en viñedos comerciales los años dosytres. Lostratamientos consistieron en ovejas avertidas (AV, 225 mg LiCl/kg PV) y ovejas control (C, tratadas con agua). Durante el año uno la aversión se validó (30 min/prueba) en el aprisco y en viña simulada. Los siguientes años, las ovejas AV pastaron dos viñedos comerciales con cubierta espontánea (viñedo A y B). El tratamiento con LiCl dio lugar a que las ovejas AV rechazaran consumir las hojas de vid (AV vs. C; 0 vs. 95 ± 5 g/d). En los viñedos comerciales, las ovejas AV redujeron la materia seca de la cubierta vegetal en un 68 ± 8% y 44 ± 4% para A y B respectivamente. Sin embargo, cuando la cubierta fue poco palatable y escasa, las ovejas AV empezaron a consumir las hojas y brotes de vid,siendo necesaria una nueva dosis de LiCl (A, 100%; B, 50% ovejas). En conclusión, la AV fue una herramienta efectiva para controlar la cubierta vegetal del viñedo en primavera,siendo necesaria una supervisión de los animales