Full QCD on APE100 Machines

We present the first tests and results from a study of QCD with two flavours of dynamical Wilson fermions using the Hybrid Monte Carlo Algorithm (HMCA) on APE100 machines.Comment: 23 pages, LaTeX, 13 PS figures not include

The Effect of Stereoscopic (3D) Movies on Psychological and Physiological Experiences

Despite the recent rise in the popularity of 3D entertainment technology, there is surprisingly little research on the psychophysiological experience of watching 3D movies. Previous studies suggest that exposure to stereoscopic (3D) images in training environments (e.g., flight simulators) can cause discomforts including eyestrain and visually induced motion sickness. However, existing research on 3D entertainment has been mixed and has relied primarily on retrospective, non-experimental research designs, which do not allow us to draw clear causal conclusions. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological and physiological effects of viewing 3D movies using a controlled, manipulated experiment. Eighty-two participants were randomly assigned to watch a segment of a nature movie in either stereoscopic (3D) or standard (2D) format and were measured on their psychological and physiological experiences. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed statistically significant adverse effects of the 3D movie format. Specifically, watching a movie segment in 3D resulted in significantly more ocular discomfort (e.g., eyestrain) and feelings of disorientation compared to watching the same segment in 2D. Most notably, these results were observed after controlling for an individual’s self-reported level of intolerance for physical discomfort and pre-existing attitudes towards 3D movies. Interestingly, although nausea is often reported anecdotally in reaction to 3D movies, we did not find significant effects of the 3D format on feelings of nausea. These results suggest that the direct psychophysiological experience of 3D movies is complex and continued research is necessary to improve the comfort and safety of consumers

Genetic diversity of eukaryotic ultraphytoplankton in the Gulf of Naples during an annual cycle

Eukaryotic ultraphytoplankton (<5 μm) are an important component of phytoplankton populations, Dot blot hybridisation analysis using class level 16S rRNA gene probes as well as clone libraries were used to investigate the diversity of these ultraphytoplankton during a 15 mo period (2003 to 2004) in the Gulf of Naples. Hybridisation data showed the presence of 3 main classes, Cryptophyceae, Chrysophyceae and Prymnesiophyceae, along with lower signals from the Pelagophyceae. Clone libraries also contained these 4 classes as well as sequences from the Dictyochophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Prasinophyceae. However, the Prymnesiophyceae gave the dominant hybridisation signal and constituted the majority of each clone library. Their diversity, with a total of 190 sequences belonging to 114 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), probably allows them to dominate the ultraphytoplankton throughout the whole year under differing environmental conditions. Over 100 of these OTUs were unique to different libraries, suggesting a succession of different taxa during the year. The Cryptophyceae were present most of the year with 1 OTU, corresponding to a Plagioselmis prolonga strain from the Gulf of Naples, being the dominant taxon (28 % of sequences). A striking result was the high hybridisation signal from the Chrysophyceae, which showed a preference for the summer months. The Pelagophyceae were present between December and March. Most (80 %) of the sequences found in the clone libraries were not identical to available 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicating a high amount of hidden diversity for these algal classes. However, sequences from Prasinophyceae Clade II (Mamiellales) were not detected in the clone libraries

Struktur Vegetasi Mangrove Alami Di Areal Taman Nasional Sembilang Banyuasin Sumatera Selatan

Mangrove merupakan suatu komunitas vegetasi pantai tropis yang didominasi oleh beberapa spesies pohon-pohonan yang khas atau semak yang dipengaruhi oleh pasang surut air laut. Kerusakan hutan mangrove dapat disebabkan 2 faktor utama yaitu faktor aktifitas manusia dan faktor alami. Oleh karena itu penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis struktur vegetasi mangrove alami di areal Taman Nasional Sembilang. Penelitian dilaksanakan pada September-Oktober 2013. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode transek berpetak dimana ukuran plot untuk pohon 10m x 10m, anakan 5m x 5m, dan semai 2m x 2m. Mangrove yang ditemukan pada kedua lokasi pengamatan yaitu Sungai Sembilang dan Sungai Bungin sebanyak 12 jenis mangrove antara lain Avicennia alba, Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Excoecaria agallocha, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Kandelia candel, Nypa fruticans, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Soneratia alba, dan Terminalia catappa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa struktur vegetasi mangrove alami di areal Taman Nasional Sembilang pada fase pohon jenis Rhizophora apiculatamemiliki indeks nilai penting tertinggi sebesar 44,49 %, pada fase anakanjenis Rhizophora mucronata memiliki indeks nilai tertinggi sebesar 72,54 %,pada fase semai jenis Rhizophora mucronata memiliki indeks nilai pentingtertinggi sebesar 66,07 %

Pengaruh Sistem Olah Tanah Dan Pemupukan Nitrogen Jangka Panjang Terhadap Efisiensi Serapan Nitrogen Pada Tanaman Padi Gogo (Oryza Sativa L.) Tahun Ke-27 Di Lahan Politeknik Negeri Lampung

Padi gogo merupakan tanaman pangan yang dibudidayakan di lahan kering. Salah satu upaya untuk meningkatkan efisiensi serapan nitrogen di lahan kering adalah dengan sistem olah tanah dan pemupukan nitrogen. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui pengaruh sistem olah tanah dan pemupukan nitrogen jangka panjang terhadap efisiensi serapan nirogen pada tanaman padi gogo. Penelitian dilakukan di lahan Politeknik Negeri Lampung, dari bulan Oktober 2014 sampai dengan Maret 2015. Penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) yang disusun secara faktorial dengan 4 ulangan. Faktor pertama adalah sistem olah tanah jangka panjang yaitu T 1 = Olah Tanah Intensif (OTI), T 2 = Olah Tanah Minimum (OTM), T 3 = Tanpa Olah Tanah (TOT), dan faktor kedua adalah pemupukan nitrogen jangka panjang yaitu N o = 0 kg N ha -1 , N 1 = 50 kg N ha -1 , dan N 2 = 100 kg N ha -1 . Analisis tanah dan tanaman dilakukan di Laboratorium Ilmu Tanah Jurusan Agroteknologi dan Laboratoium Pengelolaan Limbah Agroindustri Jurusan Teknologi Hasil Pertanian, Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Lampung, Bandar Lampung. Data yang diperoleh diuji homogenitasnya dengan uji Barlet dan adifitasnya dengan uji Tukey serta diolah dengan analisis ragam dan dilanjutkan dengan uji Beda Nyata Jujur (BNJ) pada taraf 5%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa efisiensi serapan nitrogen antara sistem olah tanah OTM, TOT, dan OTI tidak berbeda nyata, dengan rerata mencapai 20,42%, 22,15%, dan 27,26%; efisiensi serapan nitrogen antara pemupukan nitrogen dosis 50 kg N ha -1 dan 100 kg N ha -1 tidak berbeda nyata, dengan rerata mencapai 20,07% dan 26,49%; dan tidak terdapat pengaruh interaksi antara sistem olah tanah dan pemupukan nitrogen jangka panjang terhadap efisiensi serapan nitrogen

Pengaruh Pemberian Asam Humat (Berasal dari Batubara Muda) melalui Daun dan Pupuk P terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Tanaman Tomat (Lycopersicum Esculentum Mill)

Tomat merupakan komoditas sayur penting yang perlu mendapat perhatian dalam penambahan produksinya, untuk menambah keterbutuhan salah satunya adalah dengan penambahan unsur hara dengan cara penambahan asam humat dan pupuk P. Asam humat merupakan senyawa organik yang mengalami proses humifikasi. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh pemberian asam humat dan pupuk P serta interaksinya terhadap pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman tomat. Penelitian ini dilakukan di rumah kaca dan laboratorium Ilmu Tanah Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Lampung dengan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok dengan pola faktorial (2 X 5) dengan 3 ulangan. Faktor pertama pemberian pupuk P (P) yaitu p 0 = tanpa pupuk SP-36, p 1 = dengan pupuk SP-36 12 g/polybag. Faktor kedua aplikasi asam humat (H), yaitu: h 0 = 0; h 1 = 50 ; h 2 = 100 ; h 3 = 150 ; h 4 = 200 mg L -1 . Data yang diperoleh diuji dengan uji F dan dilanjutkan dengan uji ortogonal kontas.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman tomat dipengaruhi oleh pemberian asam humat dan pupuk P. Pada semua variabel pengamatan pemberian asam humat baik tanpa maupun diberi pupuk P nyata meningkatkan tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, bobot tomat per butir, dan bobot buah per tanaman meningkat secara linier, sedangkan pada indeks kehijauan daun tidak menunjukkan perbedaan yang nyata. Interaksi antara keduanya nyata meningkatkan tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, bobot tomat per butir, dan bobot buah per tanaman meningkat secara linier, sedangkan pada indeks kehijuan daun tidak menunjukkan perbedaan yang nyata. Penggunaan asam humat konsentrasi 150-200 mg L -1 akan efektif bila diberikan bersamaan dengan pupuk P

Contraceptive use and sexual function: a comparison of Italian female medical students and women attending family planning services

Objectives: The aims of the study were to understand how education relates to contraceptive choice and how sexual function can vary in relation to the use of a contraceptive method. Methods: We surveyed female medical students and women attending a family planning service (FPS) in Italy. Participants completed an online questionnaire which asked for information on sociodemographics, lifestyle, sexuality and contraceptive use and also included items of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results: The questionnaire was completed by 413 women (362 students and 51 women attending the FPS) between the ages of 18 and 30 years. FSFI scores revealed a lower risk of sexual dysfunction among women in the control group who did not use oral hormonal contraception. The differences in FSFI total scores between the two study groups, when subdivided by the primary contraceptive method used, was statistically significant (p < 0.005). Women using the vaginal ring had the lowest risk of sexual dysfunction, compared with all other women, and had a positive sexual function profile. In particular, the highest FSFI domain scores were lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction, also among the control group. Expensive contraception, such as long-acting reversible contraception, was not preferred by this young population, even though such methods are more contemporary and manageable. Compared with controls, students had lower compliance with contraception and a negative attitude towards voluntary termination of pregnancy. Conclusion: Despite their scientific knowledge, Italian female medical students were found to need sexual and contraceptive assistance. A woman's sexual function responds to her awareness of her body and varies in relation to how she is guided in her contraceptive choice. Contraceptive counselling is an excellent means to improve female sexuality