Fabric anisotropy & DEM informed two-surface hyperplasticity : constitutive formulation, asymptotic states & experimental validation.

In geotechnical analysis continuum idealisations of the bulk material still provide the most appropriate approach for engineers designing large-scale structures. In this area, the most successful framework for describing the behaviour of soils is Critical State (CS) soil mechanics. However, the findings from discrete element method (DEM) analysis, such as the uniqueness of the CS, can provide invaluable information in the development such models. This paper details the key concepts behind a two-surface hyperplasticity model (?) whose development was informed by recent DEM findings on the uniqueness of the CS. Asymptotic states of the model will be confirmed and the DEM-continuum-experimental loop will be closed through comparison of the developed model with experimental data on coarse-grained particulate media. This will demonstrate, that providing the previous stress history is accounted for, the proposed model is suitable for a variety of particulate media

The Evaluation of Protective Coatings and Their Effect on Salt Formation on Brick Substrate

193

Upaya meningkatkan kemampuan kognitif anak usia dini kelompok B melalui kegiatan senam otak di RA Rahmah Elyunusiah II Medan T.A 2017/2018

193

PENDEKATAN PERSEPSI TERHADAP KEMUNGKINAN USAHA REPOSITIONING PADA STASIUN TELEVISI SWASTA DI INDONESIA

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi persepsi pemirsa televisi terhadap program stasiun televisi terhadap program stasiun televisi swasta di Indonesia, dan untuk mengidentifikasi kemungkinan-kemungkinan apa saja yang ada dalam melakukan usaha repositioning pada stasiun televisi swasta di Indonesia. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara menyebar kuisoner secara langsung kepada pemirsa televisi khususnya di daerah Semarang dengan pertimbangan bahwa daerah tersebut dapat menerima siaran dari semua stasiun televisi yang ada. Teknik analisis yang dipergunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah teknik analisis statistik deskriptif. Dari penelitian ini, kita dapat diketahui persepsi pemirsa terhadap semua stasiun televisi swasta yang ada di Indonesia sehingga dapat diperbandingkan keunggulan dan kelemahan dari setiap stasiun televisi swasta tersebut. Dari hasil penelitian ini dapat diketahui pula tanggapan pemirsa terhadap kemungkinan-kemungkinan usaha repositioning pada stasiun televisi swasta yang ada

A democracia na União Europeia em crise : o caso da Grécia (2009-2015)

A União Europeia encontra-se numa encruzilhada provocada por uma crise multifacetada (económica, financeira, política e social), com início em 2007/2008 com a pior crise económica desde a década de 30 na Europa. A crise revelou problemas com diversas origens e consequências, e cujo desfecho se afigura ainda hoje imprevisível, constituindo um incontornável desafio ao futuro da União Europeia. Além da crise económica e da crise das dívidas soberanas, verifica-se uma preocupante crise da democracia europeia, a somar à já amplamente debatida questão do défice democrático. A crise e as respostas à mesma conduziram à imposição de políticas e medidas de austeridade, que acarretaram significativas interferências atípicas no normal funcionamento da democracia, desde logo pela adoção de procedimentos e o surgimento de novos atores na gestão da crise à margem do jogo democrático. Em Outubro de 2009, o governo grego reconhece a situação de insustentabilidade financeira do país, colocando em suspense toda a zona euro, sendo o primeiro Estado membro a recorrer a assistência financeira externa sob severas condições e com impactos fortemente negativos no seu Estado de bem-estar social. Pretendemos saber e compreender o estado da democracia na União Europeia no contexto da crise, a partir do estudo de caso sobre a democracia grega no contexto da crise, delimitado ao período compreendido entre 2009 e 2015. Com o mesmo objetivo será feita uma análise do apoio dos Cidadãos gregos à democracia, da sua satisfação com o funcionamento da democracia, da sua confiança nas instituições e participação nas eleições, numa perspetiva diacrónica, ao nível da União Europeia e do Estado Grego.The European Union is at a crossroad due to a multifaceted crisis (economic, financial, political and social), which started in 2007/2008 with the worst economic crisis since the 1930s in Europe. The crisis has revealed problems with different origins and consequences, and whose outcome is still unpredictable today, becoming an inevitable challenge to the future of the European Union. Apart from the economic crisis and the sovereign debt crisis, there is an alarming crisis of European democracy, together with the already widely debated issue of the democratic deficit. The crisis and its responses have led to the imposition of austerity policies and measures, which caused significant atypical interference in the normal functioning of democracy, from the adoption of procedures and the emergence of new actors in crisis management, outside the democratic game. In October 2009, the Greek government acknowledged the financially unsustainable situation of its country, keeping the whole euro area in suspense. It was the first member state to turn to external financial assistance under severe conditions with heavily and negative impact on its social welfare state. We want to know and understand the state of democracy in the European Union in the context of the crisis, starting from the case study on Greek democracy in the context of the crisis, delimited between 2009 and 2015. At the same time we will analyse the Greek citizens’ support to the democracy, their satisfaction with the functioning of democracy, their confidence in the institutions and participation in the elections, with a diachronic perspective at the level concerning the European Union and the Greek State

Design, Sustainability Analysis and Multiobjective Optimisation of Ethanol Production via Syngas Fermentation

Ethanol production from non-edible feedstock has received significant attention over the past two decades. The utilisation of agricultural residues within the biorefinery concept can positively contribute to the renewable production of fuels. To this end, this study proposes the utilisation of bagasse in a hybrid conversion route for ethanol production. The main steps of the process are the gasification of the raw material followed by syngas fermentation to ethanol. Aspen plus was utilised to rigorously design the biorefinery coupled with Matlab to perform process optimisation. Based on the simulations, ethanol can be produced at a rate of 283 L per dry tonne of bagasse, achieving energy efficiency of 43% and according to the environmental analysis, is associated with low CO2 emissions. The conduction of a typical discounted cash flow analysis resulted in a minimum ethanol selling price of 0.69 $ L−1. The study concludes with multiobjective optimisation setting as objective functions the conflictive concepts of total investment costs and exergy efficiency. The total cost rate of the system is minimised whereas the exergy efficiency is maximised by using a genetic algorithm. This way, various process configurations and trade-offs between the investigated criteria were analysed for the proposed biorefinery system

Biomineralization plasticity and environmental heterogeneity predict geographical resilience patterns of foundation species to future change.

Although geographical patterns of species' sensitivity to environmental changes are defined by interacting multiple stressors, little is known about compensatory processes shaping regional differences in organismal vulnerability. Here, we examine large-scale spatial variations in biomineralization under heterogeneous environmental gradients of temperature, salinity and food availability across a 30° latitudinal range (3,334 km), to test whether plasticity in calcareous shell production and composition, from juveniles to large adults, mediates geographical patterns of resilience to climate change in critical foundation species, the mussels Mytilus edulis and M. trossulus. We find shell calcification decreased towards high latitude, with mussels producing thinner shells with a higher organic content in polar than temperate regions. Salinity was the best predictor of within-region differences in mussel shell deposition, mineral and organic composition. In polar, subpolar, and Baltic low-salinity environments, mussels produced thin shells with a thicker external organic layer (periostracum), and an increased proportion of calcite (prismatic layer, as opposed to aragonite) and organic matrix, providing potentially higher resistance against dissolution in more corrosive waters. Conversely, in temperate, higher salinity regimes, thicker, more calcified shells with a higher aragonite (nacreous layer) proportion were deposited, which suggests enhanced protection under increased predation pressure. Interacting effects of salinity and food availability on mussel shell composition predict the deposition of a thicker periostracum and organic-enriched prismatic layer under forecasted future environmental conditions, suggesting a capacity for increased protection of high-latitude populations from ocean acidification. These findings support biomineralization plasticity as a potentially advantageous compensatory mechanism conferring Mytilus species a protective capacity for quantitative and qualitative trade-offs in shell deposition as a response to regional alterations of abiotic and biotic conditions in future environments. Our work illustrates that compensatory mechanisms, driving plastic responses to the spatial structure of multiple stressors, can define geographical patterns of unanticipated species resilience to global environmental change

Barium effect on germination, plant growth, and antioxidant enzymes in Cucumis sativus L. plants

Barium (Ba) is a nonessential element that can cause several deleterious effects in most organisms. Elevated Ba concentrations can be toxic for plants and may affect growth and disturbances in homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate the Ba stress, the plant-tolerance limits, and the detoxification strategy adopted by Cucumis sativus L. The effect of Ba on seed's germination and vegetative development of this species was evaluated. For germination test, different Ba concentrations were used (0, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 μM). Results showed that germination was stimulated with 500 and 2,000 µM of Ba. The toxicity effect on plant development was studied by treating the plants with increasing doses of Ba (100, 200, 300, and 500 μM) during 45 days. Shoot and root dry biomass production decreased significantly with elevated Ba concentrations, although water content enhanced in the roots. The concentration of Ba, 500 µM, induced high Ba accumulation in shoots and roots (9 times higher than in the control plants). Moreover, results showed that catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities were stimulated in the different tissues of cucumber plants which highlight the occurring of an oxidative damage through Ba treatments and the involvement of the plant enzymatic antioxidant defense system

Differences between <i>Trypanosoma brucei gambiense</i> groups 1 and 2 in their resistance to killing by Trypanolytic factor 1

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; The three sub-species of &lt;i&gt;Trypanosoma brucei&lt;/i&gt; are important pathogens of sub-Saharan Africa. &lt;i&gt;T. b. brucei&lt;/i&gt; is unable to infect humans due to sensitivity to trypanosome lytic factors (TLF) 1 and 2 found in human serum. &lt;i&gt;T. b. rhodesiense&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; are able to resist lysis by TLF. There are two distinct sub-groups of &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; that differ genetically and by human serum resistance phenotypes. Group 1 &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; have an invariant phenotype whereas group 2 show variable resistance. Previous data indicated that group 1 &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; are resistant to TLF-1 due in-part to reduced uptake of TLF-1 mediated by reduced expression of the TLF-1 receptor (the haptoglobin-hemoglobin receptor (&lt;i&gt;HpHbR&lt;/i&gt;)) gene. Here we investigate if this is also true in group 2 parasites.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methodology:&lt;/b&gt; Isogenic resistant and sensitive group 2 &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; were derived and compared to other T. brucei parasites. Both resistant and sensitive lines express the &lt;i&gt;HpHbR&lt;/i&gt; gene at similar levels and internalized fluorescently labeled TLF-1 similar fashion to &lt;i&gt;T. b. brucei&lt;/i&gt;. Both resistant and sensitive group 2, as well as group 1 &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt;, internalize recombinant APOL1, but only sensitive group 2 parasites are lysed.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Our data indicate that, despite group 1 &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; avoiding TLF-1, it is resistant to the main lytic component, APOL1. Similarly group 2 &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; is innately resistant to APOL1, which could be based on the same mechanism. However, group 2 &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; variably displays this phenotype and expression does not appear to correlate with a change in expression site or expression of &lt;i&gt;HpHbR&lt;/i&gt;. Thus there are differences in the mechanism of human serum resistance between &lt;i&gt;T. b. gambiense&lt;/i&gt; groups 1 and 2.&lt;/p&gt