Energetics of the Kuroshio south of Japan

Historical GEK data are used to estimate the flow of energy from the mean current to the fluctuations for the surface of the Kuroshio in a region south of Japan. The horizontal transfer components of kinetic energy and temperature variance are calculated and are found to be similar to estimates for the Florida Current...

Papua New Guinea terrestrial vertebrate richness: elevation matters most for all except reptiles

Aims To examine species richness patterns in Papua New Guinea’s terrestrial vertebrates and test for geographical congruence between the four classes, and between lizard and snake subgroups. To assess the environmental correlates of Papua New Guinean terrestrial-vertebrate richness, and contrast effects of varying analytical resolution and correction for spatial autocorrelation. We predict congruence in the bird, mammal and to a lesser extent amphibian richness, with weak congruence or incongruence between reptiles and the other taxonomic groups. We further predict these patterns will stem from relative or in the case of reptiles dissimilar, correlative trends with environmental predictors such as elevation and temperature. Location Papua New Guinea. Methods Having created and updated distribution maps for reptiles, we compare them with known ranges of amphibians, birds and mammals and generate species richness grids at quarter-, half- and one- degree spatial resolutions. We examine congruence in species richness between vertebrate groups and between reptile subgroups. We employed spreading-dye models to simulate species richness according to eight environmental predictors and one random model. We accounted for spatial autocorrelation in all analyses. Results Papua New Guinean amphibian, bird and mammal species richness are spatially congruent, a trend which strengthens with decreasing spatial resolution. Reptiles and the lizard and snake subgroups reveal remarkably different spatial-richness trends. Elevational predictors, particularly elevational range at coarse resolutions, provide the strongest correlates of species richness. Terrestrial-vertebrate richness increases with elevation, whereas reptile richness decreases. Main conclusions Congruent species richness gradients in Papua New Guinea are observed in most terrestrial vertebrates, except reptiles. Topographic heterogeneity and associated climatic clines promote diversity in most terrestrial vertebrates but appear to strongly constrain reptile diversity. The topographical complexity and climatic stratification of tropical mountains clearly present a wealth of opportunities for diversification in most terrestrial vertebrate groups. As reptiles are strongly constrained by temperature, tropical mountains present more of a diversification barrier for them

Relevance of Norepinephrine–Dopamine Interactions in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Central dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems play essential roles in controlling several forebrain functions. Consequently, perturbations of these neurotransmissions may contribute to the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. For many years, there was a focus on the serotonin (5-HT) system because of the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most prescribed antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Given the interconnectivity within the monoaminergic network, any action on one system may reverberate in the other systems. Analysis of this network and its dysfunctions suggests that drugs with selective or multiple modes of action on dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) may have robust therapeutic effects. This review focuses on NE-DA interactions as demonstrated in electrophysiological and neurochemical studies, as well as on the mechanisms of action of agents with either selective or dual actions on DA and NE. Understanding the mode of action of drugs targeting these catecholaminergic neurotransmitters can improve their utilization in monotherapy and in combination with other compounds particularly the SSRIs. The elucidation of such relationships can help design new treatment strategies for MDD, especially treatment-resistant depression

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Alkylation of isobutane by ethylene catalyzed by chlorided alumina: influence of experimental conditions

International audienceChlorided alumina obtained by reaction of alumina with tetrachloromethane was tested as a catalyst for alkylation of isobutane with ethylene at 273–373K. The alkylate composition and the catalyst deactivation were examined under various experimental conditions. At high isobutane/ethylene ratios the catalyst was deactivated rather slowly. A high dilution of ethylene also favoured the production of hexanes versus octanes, isopentane and heavier products, however the primary products of alkylation were largely isomerized. Whatever the dilution of ethylene, the catalyst stability was improved when the reaction temperature was lowered to 273 K. Then the isomerization of the primary products was less pronounced. Increasing the catalyst mass led to better stability, hexane production was enhanced at the expense of heavier products. Alumina catalysts treated with various chlorinating agents (hexachloroethane, thionyl chloride, hexachloropropanone, hydrogen chloride) were also examined: no marked improvement in either stability or selectivity was noted. Added metal cations did not appear beneficial either

Cuarteto Vegh de Budapest, Sandor Vegh (primer violín), Georges Janzer (viola), Sandor Zoldy (segundo violín), Paul Szabo (violoncello) : concierto VIII (166 [i.e. 196] de la Sociedad), Martes, 11 de Mayo de 1954 : [programa].

Precede al tít.: Sociedad Filarmónica de Pontevedra, año XXXIV, 1953-1954Precede ó tít.: Sociedad Filarmónica de Pontevedra, año XXXIV, 1953-195

Developpement of cobalt-based active phase for the detection of methane and carbon dioxide

Tin oxide is widely used in the fabrication of catalytic gas sensor, due to its capacity to generate an electronic signal easy to measure, and its high resistance to poisonning and aging. However, all the experiments performed showed clearly the total absence of interaction between our chosen active phase and the two target gases. This could be explained by the fact that tin oxide is exclusively used with doping material such as platinum, palladium or gold. It could also explain why tin oxide sensor have such a high resistance to poisonning. However, it means that, before any sensor prototype could be built using tin oxide, an important study will be required, in order to determine which doping material is the most promising, and the amount needed to acquire a good interaction with the target gasesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Preliminary studies for the developpement of cobalt-based active phase for the detection of methane and carbon dioxide

The important development of biogas plants requires the use of high performance new sensors to analyze the composition of the gas produced. They must be able to combine rapidity, reliability, and precision with an easy and inexpensive utilization. Such a sensor does not currently exist. Sensors based on the detection of a catalytically induced reaction are what seems to be the most promising possibility. There are a large number of active phases currently under study. This work focuses on cobalt systems. The active phases that we studied were made by the decomposition of cobalt oxalate in Ar, Ar/H2 or Ar/O2, giving us respectively a mix of CoO/Co, metallic Co or Co3O4. The active phase was then put in a flow of methane or carbon dioxide, and the evolution of the composition of the flow was studied by MS measurements. If any change in the composition is observed, it is a proof that an interaction occurs between the active phase and the target gases. CoO/Co and Co3O4 demonstrate such changes, proving that they are able to interact with the gases. They can even be reduced by methane, yielding carbon dioxide. Such a reaction could be the sign that the oxidation of methane on cobalt based catalyst follows a Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. However, we are still facing two difficulties: temperatures needed to evidence a reaction with methane can be quite high, and a good way to place the active phase on a micro-chip sensor is still needed.info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe