Thermal evolution and structure models of the transiting super-Earth GJ 1214b

The planet GJ 1214b is the second known super-Earth with a measured mass and radius. Orbiting a quiet M-star, it receives considerably less mass-loss driving X-ray and UV radiation than CoRoT-7b, so that the interior may be quite dissimilar in composition, including the possibility of a large fraction of water. We model the interior of GJ 1214b assuming a two-layer (envelope+rock core) structure where the envelope material is either H/He, pure water, or a mixture of H/He and H2O. Within this framework we perform models of the thermal evolution and contraction of the planet. We discuss possible compositions that are consistent with Mp=6.55 ME, Rp=2.678 RE, an age tau=3-10 Gyr, and the irradiation level of the atmosphere. These conditions require that if water exists in the interior, it must remain in a fluid state, with important consequences for magnetic field generation. These conditions also require the atmosphere to have a deep isothermal region extending down to 80-800 bar, depending on composition. Our results bolster the suggestion of a metal-enriched H/He atmosphere for the planet, as we find water-world models that lack an H/He atmosphere to require an implausibly large water-to-rock ratio of more than 6:1. We instead favor a H/He/H2O envelope with high water mass fraction (~0.5-0.85), similar to recent models of the deep envelope of Uranus and Neptune. Even with these high water mass fractions in the H/He envelope, generally the bulk composition of the planet can have subsolar water:rock ratios. Dry, water-enriched, and pure water envelope models differ to an observationally significant level in their tidal Love numbers k2 of respectively ~0.018, 0.15, and 0.7.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, accepted to Ap

Myrtaceae, a cache of fungal biodiversity

Twenty-six species of microfungi are treated, the majority of which are associated with leaf spots of Corymbia, Eucalyptus and Syzygium spp. (Myrtaceae). The treated species include three new genera, Bagadiella, Foliocryphia and Pseudoramichloridium, 20 new species and one new combination. Novelties on Eucalyptus include: Antennariella placitae, Bagadiella lunata, Cladoriella rubrigena, C. paleospora, Cyphellophora eucalypti, Elsinoë eucalypticola, Foliocryphia eucalypti, Leptoxyphium madagascariense, Neofabraea eucalypti, Polyscytalum algarvense, Quambalaria simpsonii, Selenophoma australiensis, Sphaceloma tectificae, Strelitziana australiensis and Zeloasperisporium eucalyptorum. Stylaspergillus synanamorphs are reported for two species of Parasympodiella, P. eucalypti sp. nov. and P. elongata, while Blastacervulus eucalypti, Minimedusa obcoronata and Sydowia eucalypti are described from culture. Furthermore, Penidiella corymbia and Pseudoramichloridium henryi are newly described on Corymbia, Pseudocercospora palleobrunnea on Syzygium and Rachicladosporium americanum on leaf litter. To facilitate species identification, as well as determine phylogenetic relationships, DNA sequence data were generated from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, 5.8S nrDNA, ITS2) and the 28S nrDNA (LSU) regions of all taxa studie

Evaluation of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the Identification of Group B Streptococcus.

Objective Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Intrapartum antibiotics given to women carrying GBS are an effective means of reducing disease in the first week of life. Rapid and reliable tests are needed to accurately identify GBS from these women for timely intrapartum antibiotic administration to prevent neonatal disease. Many laboratories now use matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) by direct plating or cell lysis for the identification of GBS isolates. The cell lysis step increases time to results for clinical samples and is more complex to perform. Therefore, we seek to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the quicker and more rapid direct plating method in identifying GBS. Results We directly compared swab isolates analysed by both direct plating and cell lysis method and demonstrated that direct plating has a sensitivity and specificity of 0.97 and 1, respectively, compared to an additional cell lysis step. We demonstrated that MALDI-TOF MS can be successfully used for batch processing by the direct plating method which saves time. These results are reassuring for laboratories worldwide who seek to identify GBS from swabs samples as quickly as possible

Stakeholder values and attitudes towards water markets across northern Australia<br />

SummaryThis report is the second of three reports and part of a two year project entitled Establishing water markets in northern Australia: a study to assess feasibility and consequences of market-based mechanisms of water delivery undertaken through the Australian National University&rsquo;s Crawford School of Economics and Government. The Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) hub funded this project under Theme 6.1 &ldquo;Sustainable Enterprises&rdquo;. This research is also being done in collaboration with the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA). This second report provides analysis of stakeholder attitudes and values and their implications for the design of water markets across tropical Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, (with focus on the Gulf, Timor and North East drainage divisions). The study utilised a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach, employing a survey with closed ended (5 point Likert scales and multiple choice) and open ended measures.In Task 2 we surveyed 120 people from government, Indigenous, industry and recreational user groups and present a range of values and attitudes related to markets and we discuss the general implications for market design in the north. Analysing data from open ended measures involved coding and grouping data into categories, then identifying patterns and themes. While statistical analysis involved ordered probit models, using robust standard errors and also controlling for lack of independence within each group using cluster. Preliminary findings were sent out to respondents for their feedback and where appropriate changes made. From this the final report was produced.Our findings highlight that sustainability; environmental protection; social justice and equity; and economic development were important values to respondents in relation to water markets. Respondents emphasised the importance of robust water planning frameworks that support ecological values and irrigator and Indigenous livelihoods, and respondents overwhelmingly disagreed with the trade of environmental and cultural flows. There was also significant support for the preservation of certain catchments and aquifers for their unique values (particularly among Indigenous respondents). Social justice and equity were important to respondents, with a sentiment to include Indigenous people in water reform and in water markets. Indigenous respondents felt that current arrangements were not equitable. As well, respondents from government, Indigenous and recreational groups felt that consultation and water policy fail to adequately address the needs and interests&nbsp; of Indigenous Australians. Indigenous respondents showed support for water markets, the development of water based enterprise (such as agriculture and horticulture) and believe strongly that the benefits of water trading will be significant. These views were tempered by some concerns that&nbsp; Indigenous people may be alienated from markets and that the ecological impacts from markets could be significant.Respondents felt that water management was sustainable in their region, but at the same time they did not believe water management to be efficient. This may be related to perceptions that certain systems are not over-allocated to consumptive users. A little over half of respondents agreed that water markets help sustainable water management and that water should be a tradable commodity, and respondents that were male and had a higher education were more likely to agree to these statements. Support for separating land and water title (unbundling) was mixed, with Indigenous respondents less likely to agree to a separation. There is a level of understanding of water management in their jurisdictions were more likely to agree to water transfers. There was unanimous support for government involvement in water markets, with overwhelming support for government as regulator.Literature highlights that importance of integrating values and attitudes in resource management frameworks. We identify four general implications for the design of water markets from our findings. The first is that Indigenous involvement in water markets and reform is important as one way to address Indigenous disadvantage and to support Indigenous livelihoods. This involvement could range from water management and planning, to the recognition of customary and commercial rights. Second, respondents thought that the general community should have greater involvement in water management and planning. This would require education programs to improve awareness of reform and increased support for stakeholder input into reform, particularly where language barriers and cultural differences exist. Third, given the importance of sustainability and environmental protection, it is recommended that markets develop within a planning framework, with robust but simple trading rules to protect ecological and customary values. Fourth it was emphasised by some respondents that there should be minimal red tape and costs associated with markets given the marginal operating conditions for producers across the north.Further research could build on this exploratory work to improve understanding of how to involve Indigenous interests in water markets, and examine the attitudes and values of a broader range of stakeholders across the north (such as examining women&rsquo;s attitudes and values to water markets across the north)

Health planning

노트 : Evaluation period: Jun 1976-May 197

Residential Water Consumption: A Cross Country Analysis

Survey data from over 1,600 households in ten countries were used to analyse the determinants of residential water demand. Results show that in every country the price elasticity is negative and statistically significant. Households that do not have to pay for the water they use (volumetric water charges) consume about a third more water than similar households that do have to pay such charges. Consumers’ attitudes do not have a statistically significant effect on total water use, although they do increase the probability of households using some water saving behaviours. Volumetric water charges also have an impact on the adoption of water saving actions. Full-cost water pricing appears to be a highly effective instrument to manage residential water demand.water demand, water consumption, water pricing, Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, C21, Q25, Q50,

Demonstration of single-shot picosecond time-resolved MeV electron imaging using a compact permanent magnet quadrupole based lens

We present the results of an experiment where a short focal length (~ 1.3 cm) permanent magnet electron lens is used to image micron-size features of a metal sample in a single shot, using an ultra- high brightness ps-long 4 MeV electron beam from a radiofrequency photoinjector. Magnifcation ratios in excess of 30x were obtained using a triplet of compact, small gap (3.5 mm), Halbach-style permanent magnet quadrupoles with nearly 600 T/m field gradients. These results pave the way to- wards single shot time-resolved electron microscopy and open new opportunities in the applications of high brightness electron beams.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen boost/vane pump for the advanced orbit transfer vehicles auxiliary propulsion system

A rotating, positive displacement vane pump with an integral boost stage was designed to pump saturated liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for auxiliary propulsion system of orbit transfer vehicle. This unit is designed to ingest 10% vapor by volume, contamination free liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The final pump configuration and the predicted performance are included

Quadratic Word Equations with Length Constraints, Counter Systems, and Presburger Arithmetic with Divisibility

Word equations are a crucial element in the theoretical foundation of constraint solving over strings, which have received a lot of attention in recent years. A word equation relates two words over string variables and constants. Its solution amounts to a function mapping variables to constant strings that equate the left and right hand sides of the equation. While the problem of solving word equations is decidable, the decidability of the problem of solving a word equation with a length constraint (i.e., a constraint relating the lengths of words in the word equation) has remained a long-standing open problem. In this paper, we focus on the subclass of quadratic word equations, i.e., in which each variable occurs at most twice. We first show that the length abstractions of solutions to quadratic word equations are in general not Presburger-definable. We then describe a class of counter systems with Presburger transition relations which capture the length abstraction of a quadratic word equation with regular constraints. We provide an encoding of the effect of a simple loop of the counter systems in the theory of existential Presburger Arithmetic with divisibility (PAD). Since PAD is decidable, we get a decision procedure for quadratic words equations with length constraints for which the associated counter system is \emph{flat} (i.e., all nodes belong to at most one cycle). We show a decidability result (in fact, also an NP algorithm with a PAD oracle) for a recently proposed NP-complete fragment of word equations called regular-oriented word equations, together with length constraints. Decidability holds when the constraints are additionally extended with regular constraints with a 1-weak control structure.Comment: 18 page