Torsion and Nonmetricity in Scalar-Tensor Theories of Gravity

We show that the gravitational field equations derived from an action composed of i) an arbitrary function of the scalar curvature and other scalar fields plus ii) connection-independent kinetic and source terms, are identical whether one chooses nonmetricity to vanish and have non-zero torsion or vice versa.Comment: 10 page

Continuous Workout Mortgages

This paper models Continuous Workout Mortgages (CWMs) in an economic environment with refinancings and prepayments by employing a market-observable variable such as the house price index of the pertaining locality. Our main results include: (a) explicit modelling of repayment and interest-only CWMs; (b) closed form formulae for mortgage payment and mortgage balance of a repayment CWM; (c) a closed form formula for the actuarially fair mortgage rate of an interest-only CWM. For repayment CWMs we extend our analysis to include two negotiable parameters: adjustable "workout proportion" and adjustable "workout threshold." These results are of importance as they not only help understanding the mechanics of CWMs and estimating key contract parameters. These results are of importance as they not only help in the understanding of the mechanics of CWMs and estimating key contract parameters, but they also provide guidance on how to enhance the resilience of the financial architecture and mitigate systemic risk.Continuous Workout Mortgage (CWM), Repayment, Interest-only, House price index, Prepayment intensity, Cap and floor on continuous flow

Methane and oxygen from energy-efficient, low temperature in situ resource utilization enables missions to Mars

NASA mandate is a human mission to Mars in the 2030s and sustained exploration of Mars requires in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Exploiting the Martian water cycle (alongside perchlorate salts that depress the freezing point of water to less than 213K) and the available 95 volume percent atmospheric CO2, we detail an ultra-low temperature (255K) CO2-H2O electrolyzer to produce methane fuel and life-supporting oxygen on Mars. Methane production is thermodynamically favored across a range of operational pressures and temperatures and our electrolyzer polarization model concurred with reported experimental performance. A hypothetical 10-cell, 100 square cm electrode-area-per-cell electrolyzer produced 0.31g per W per day of CH4 and 3.54g per W per day of O2 at 2V per cell (operating voltage) versus 0.8g per W per day of O2 produced by the Mars Oxygen in-situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) from the Mars 2020 mission (MOXIE produces no fuel). Material performance requirements are presented to show that this technology is an energy-efficient complement to the MOXIE high temperature approach

The flower mites of Trinidad III: The genus Rhinoseius (Acari: Ascidae)

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56428/1/MP184.pd

Peritoneal ultrafiltration: bridging the treatment gap to cardiac transplantation in refractory congestive heart failure management

Background: Peritoneal ultrafiltration needs consideration as a therapeutic option for improvement in echocardiographic parameters, tissue Doppler imaging, and patient clinical status in patients with refractory congestive heart failure.Methods: This prospective, non-randomised, two-year observational study from June 2012 to June 2014 included 19 clinic outpatients and in-patients admitted to the CARE hospital, Hyderabad. Baseline data was compared on initiation and after three months of ultrafiltration therapy. Out of 19 patients studied initially, 16 were alive and undergoing CAPD at 3 months.Results: 3 months post ultrafiltration, the ejection fraction (EF) improved significantly from 35.4±6.6 to 43.1±13.8 (p<0.01), right atrial volume index (RAVI) decreased significantly from 31.8±14.3 to 28.3±14.9 (P=0.016), inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter decreased significantly from 2.27±0.44 to 1.8±0.68 (P=0.01), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) decreased significantly from 50.7±14.4 mmHg to 38.1±15.6 mmHg (P<0.01), hospitalisation days decreased significantly from 17.5±8.3 to 1.7±3.4 days (P <0.0001) and the distance covered in the 6 minutes’ walk test (6MWT) increased significantly from 58.52 m±47.6 m to 176.4 m±80.7 m (p<0.0001). Except for 3 (17.6%) patients, significant patients that were NYHA class III and IV improved to NYHA class I and II (p <0.0001; Table 1).Conclusions: Ultrafiltration was safe and associated with significant improvements in echocardiographic parameters, NYHA functional class, physical performance (6MWT), and reduction of hospitalization days in patients with refractory congestive heart failure

Direct Determination of Fe(II) with 8-Hydroxy- 7-nitrosoquinoline-5-sulphonic Acid

215-21

Making rainfed agriculture sustainable through environmental friendly technologies in Pakistan: A review

Abstract:Pakistan is an agricultural country spreading over an area of about 79. 6 million hectares (Mha) with an arid and semi arid climate. Of 79. 6 Mha, about 23 Mha is suitable for crop production and nearly 25 percent of the total cultivated area is designated for rainfed agriculture. Unfortunately, rain-fed agriculture is constrained with multifarious problems such as moisture stress, soil erosion and crusting, nutrient deficiency, depletion and poor nutrient use efficiency, and weed infestation limiting the yield potential of these lands. In addition, deforestation and poor crop husbandry techniques are commonly noticed features. To meet the food requirements, farmers bring all the available pieces of lands under plough including steep slopes. Farming on steep slopes if not managed on scientific lines, results in severe erosion. The problems faced by the farmers are due to the unsustainable practices they adopt to practice dryland agriculture, limiting the productive potential of these important ecosystems. However, their potential can be improved by adopting suitable rainwater harvesting techniques; employing scientific soil and water conservation methods and using sustainable agricultural practices. This paper highlights some important issues associated with the rainfed agriculture of Pakistan. Working strategies for realizing optimum and sustainable yields have been outlined while conserving both land and water resources

Addressing unresolved tensions to build effective partnerships: Lessons from an Aboriginal cancer support network

Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their survival once diagnosed with cancer is lower compared to that of other Australians. This highlights the need to improve cancer-related health services for Indigenous Australians although how to achieve this remains unclear. Cancer support groups provide emotional and practical support, foster a sense of community and belonging and can improve health outcomes. However, despite evidence on their positive effects on people affected by cancer, there is scarce information on the function and effectiveness of Indigenous-specific cancer peer-support programs in Australia. Using qualitative data from an evaluation study, this paper explores different understandings of how a cancer support group should operate and the impact of unresolved tensions following the establishment of an Indigenous women cancer peer-support network in a regional town in Western Australia. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 24 participants purposively selected among Indigenous and mainstream healthcare service providers, and group members and clients. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were subjected to inductive thematic analysis. NVivo was used to manage the data and assist in the data analysis. Rigour was enhanced through team member checking, coding validation and peer debriefing. Results: Flexibility and a resistance to formal structuring were at the core of how the group operated. It was acknowledged that the network partly owned its success to its fluid approach; however, most mainstream healthcare service providers believed that a more structured approach was needed for the group to be sustainable. This was seen as acting in opposition to the flexible, organic approach considered necessary to adequately respond to Indigenous women's needs. At the core of these tensions were opposing perspectives on the constructs of 'structure' and 'flexibility' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants. Conclusions: Despite the group's achievements, unresolved tensions between opposing perspectives on how a support group should operate negatively impacted on the working relationship between the group and mainstream service providers, and posed a threat to the Network's sustainability. Our results support the need to acknowledge and address different perspectives and world views in order to build strong, effective partnerships between service providers and Indigenous communities

Direct Determination of Fe(II) with 8-Hydroxy- 7-nitrosoquinoline-5-sulphonic Acid

215-21

Distribution Fits for Various Parameters in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model

The purpose of this study is to re-analyze the atmospheric science component of the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model v. 5.0, in order to investigate if the distributional fits used for the model parameters could be improved upon. We consider alternate fits for annual hurricane occurrence, radius of maximum winds and the pressure profile parameter