Madera de compresión en Pinus radiata D. Don: I, características anatómicas

Se caracterizó la madera de compresión en 10 árboles de Pinus radiata D.Don con inclinaciones menores a 10 º en dos sitios.Los diámetros de traqueidas de los árboles del sitio Arena húmeda resultaron estadísticamente mayores que los del sitio Arcilla; pero no resultaron diferentes al comparar madera juvenil y madura o al comparar madera de compresión con madera opuesta.Diferencias significativas se determinaron en el largo de traqueida entre sitios (Arena húmeda-Arcilla), tipo de madera (madera de compresión-opuesta) y edad (madera juvenil-madura), resultados coincidentes con otros autores.Para el coarseness diferencias no significativas entre sitios, así como entre madera juvenil y madura y entre madera de compresión y opuesta coinciden y difieren de los de otros autores que comparan árboles de distintos sitios.Las discrepancias y coincidencias de estos resultados con los de otros autores se explican considerando el comportamiento diferente de las dimensiones celulares de la madera temprana y tardía y las diferencias que hay entre madera de compresión leve y la madera de compresión severa. AbstractCompression wood in 10 Pinus radiata D. Don trees with lean smaller to 10º from two sites were characterized. The tracheid diameters of the trees of the humid sand site were statistically greater than those from the clay site; but they were not different when comparing juvenile wood with mature wood or to it compares compression wood with opposite wood.Significant differences were determined in the tracheid length between sites (humid sand-clay), type of wood (compression-opposite wood) and age (juvenile-mature wood), were similar results with other authors.For coarseness non significant differences between sites, as well as between juvenile and mature wood and compression and opposite and agree and different from those of other authors who compare trees of different sites.The discrepancies and coincidences of these results with those of other authors are explained considering the behavior from the cellular dimensions of the earlywood and latewood wood and the differences between severe compression and mild compression wood

Madera de compresión en Pinus radiata III: Propiedades de pulpas kraft

Estudios anteriores en estos mismos árboles de Pinus radiata con fustes levemente inclinados, demostraron que la madera de compresión leve que ellos exhibían presentaba: traqueidas más cortas, mayor densidad, mayor proporción de lignina, mayor proporción de extraíbles en etanol tolueno y menor proporción de alfa celulosa que la madera opuesta y que la madera de árboles sin madera de compresión.En el presente estudio se analiza las propiedades pulpables de la madera de compresión y la de sus respectivas maderas opuestas de los quince árboles de Pinus radiata estudiados, crecidos en suelos de arena húmeda en Chile. Se estudió separadamente la madera de compresión y la madera opuesta. Con distintas proporciones, de entre 0, 40, 70 y 100 % de madera de compresión y madera opuesta, se efectuaron pulpajes kraft  para cada una de las mezclas.De estos pulpajes con y sin blanqueo se informan valores de 501 y 695 kg/m3 de densidad; 28 a 51 Nm/g en índice de tensión, 18 a 25 mNm2/g en índice de rasgado, 2.2 a 4.1 kPam2/g en índice de explosión y rendimiento de 44 a 50.6 % en las mezclas de la pulpa estudiada.En la pulpa cruda de MC, de la madera pulpable y de la madera exterior aserrable, se registró me-nor densidad, mayor índice de tensión, de rasgado y de explosión, en comparación con los resultados obtenidos en la pulpa cruda de MO. En el caso de las pulpas blanqueadas, la densidad y el índice de tensión resultaron mayores en la MC.En el resto de las propiedades las diferencias entre MC y MO fueron oscilantes y reducidas. El aumento de la proporción de MC en la mezcla de MC y MO, produjo una reducción de rendimiento. Los rendimiento de las mezclas de la madera pulpable indicaron para el 100 % de MO un 50.6 % y para el 100% de MC un 44 %: En los casos de las pulpas de madera exterior aserrable el 100% de MO tuvo un rendimiento de de 48.4% en cambio el 100% de la MC registró un 44.3%.Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que la MC leve, que se encuentra en árboles con inclinaciones menores, tuvo un efecto de menor magnitud que él que se produce en la MC severa sobre las características y rendimiento de la pulpa kraft. AbstractPrevious studies with radiata pine trees growing slightly leaned towards one side showed that they have small amounts of compression wood with different characteristics than the opposite wood at the other side of the annual rings. These differences include shorter tracheids, higher density, higher proportion of lining, higher proportion of extractives in toluene ethanol, and a smaller amount of alpha-cellulose.The present study compares the properties of kraft pulp, with and without bleaching, for mixtures of compression and opposite wood obtained from fifteen 22-year-old radiata pine trees that grew in humid sand soils of Chile. The kraft pulp mixture was studied for different proportions of 0, 40, 70 and 100% compression wood. Considering all mixtures with and without bleaching, the study reports values between 501 and 695 kg/m3 density, 28 and 51 Nm/g tension index, 18 and 25 mNm2/g tear index, 2,2 and 4,1 kPam2 burst index, and 44% and 50,6% pulp yield.It was found that the pulp without bleaching from compression wood (for both the internal pulp and the external lumber areas) had lower density, but higher tension, tear, and burst indexes. The pulp with bleaching from compression wood had both higher density and tension index, but the other properties only show small random differences with respect to opposite wood.A higher proportion of compression wood in the mixture reduced pulp yield. The yield for the internal pulp area was 50,6 % with pure opposite wood and 44% with pure compression wood, while the yield for external lumber area was 48,4% with pure opposite wood and 44,3% with pure compression wood. I was concluded, however, that the relatively small amount of compression wood found in these trees had only a minor effect in the properties and yield of kraft pulp

Large-amplitude driving of a superconducting artificial atom: Interferometry, cooling, and amplitude spectroscopy

Superconducting persistent-current qubits are quantum-coherent artificial atoms with multiple, tunable energy levels. In the presence of large-amplitude harmonic excitation, the qubit state can be driven through one or more of the constituent energy-level avoided crossings. The resulting Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg (LZS) transitions mediate a rich array of quantum-coherent phenomena. We review here three experimental works based on LZS transitions: Mach-Zehnder-type interferometry between repeated LZS transitions, microwave-induced cooling, and amplitude spectroscopy. These experiments exhibit a remarkable agreement with theory, and are extensible to other solid-state and atomic qubit modalities. We anticipate they will find application to qubit state-preparation and control methods for quantum information science and technology.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

Optical Sum Rule in Finite Bands

In a single finite electronic band the total optical spectral weight or optical sum carries information on the interactions involved between the charge carriers as well as on their band structure. It varies with temperature as well as with impurity scattering. The single band optical sum also bears some relationship to the charge carrier kinetic energy and, thus, can potentially provide useful information, particularly on its change as the charge carriers go from normal to superconducting state. Here we review the considerable advances that have recently been made in the context of high $T_c$ oxides, both theoretical and experimental.Comment: Review article accepted for publication in J. Low Temp. Phys. 29 pages, 33 figure

Flux Phase as a Dynamic Jahn-Teller Phase: Berryonic Matter in the Cuprates?

There is considerable evidence for some form of charge ordering on the hole-doped stripes in the cuprates, mainly associated with the low-temperature tetragonal phase, but with some evidence for either charge density waves or a flux phase, which is a form of dynamic charge-density wave. These three states form a pseudospin triplet, demonstrating a close connection with the E X e dynamic Jahn-Teller effect, suggesting that the cuprates constitute a form of Berryonic matter. This in turn suggests a new model for the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect as a form of flux phase. A simple model of the Cu-O bond stretching phonons allows an estimate of electron-phonon coupling for these modes, explaining why the half breathing mode softens so much more than the full oxygen breathing mode. The anomalous properties of $O^{2-}$ provide a coupling (correlated hopping) which acts to stabilize density wave phases.Comment: Major Revisions: includes comparisons with specific cuprate phonon modes, 16 eps figures, revte

Seasonal drought limits tree species across the Neotropics

Within the tropics, the species richness of tree communities is strongly and positively associated with precipitation. Previous research has suggested that this macroecological pattern is driven by the negative effect of water-stress on the physiological processes of most tree species. This process implies that the range limits of taxa are defined by their ability to occur under dry conditions, and thus in terms of species distributions it predicts a nested pattern of taxa distribution from wet to dry areas. However, this ‘dry-tolerance’ hypothesis has yet to be adequately tested at large spatial and taxonomic scales. Here, using a dataset of 531 inventory plots of closed canopy forest distributed across the Western Neotropics we investigated how precipitation, evaluated both as mean annual precipitation and as the maximum climatological water deficit, influences the distribution of tropical tree species, genera and families. We find that the distributions of tree taxa are indeed nested along precipitation gradients in the western Neotropics. Taxa tolerant to seasonal drought are disproportionally widespread across the precipitation gradient, with most reaching even the wettest climates sampled; however, most taxa analysed are restricted to wet areas. Our results suggest that the ‘dry tolerance’ hypothesis has broad applicability in the world's most species-rich forests. In addition, the large number of species restricted to wetter conditions strongly indicates that an increased frequency of drought could severely threaten biodiversity in this region. Overall, this study establishes a baseline for exploring how tropical forest tree composition may change in response to current and future environmental changes in this region

The mammalian gene function resource: The International Knockout Mouse Consortium

In 2007, the International Knockout Mouse Consortium (IKMC) made the ambitious promise to generate mutations in virtually every protein-coding gene of the mouse genome in a concerted worldwide action. Now, 5 years later, the IKMC members have developed highthroughput gene trapping and, in particular, gene-targeting pipelines and generated more than 17,400 mutant murine embryonic stem (ES) cell clones and more than 1,700 mutant mouse strains, most of them conditional. A common IKMC web portal (www.knockoutmouse.org) has been established, allowing easy access to this unparalleled biological resource. The IKMC materials considerably enhance functional gene annotation of the mammalian genome and will have a major impact on future biomedical research

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

One sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is dependent on river floodplains

Amazonia's floodplain system is the largest and most biodiverse on Earth. Although forests are crucial to the ecological integrity of floodplains, our understanding of their species composition and how this may differ from surrounding forest types is still far too limited, particularly as changing inundation regimes begin to reshape floodplain tree communities and the critical ecosystem functions they underpin. Here we address this gap by taking a spatially explicit look at Amazonia-wide patterns of tree-species turnover and ecological specialization of the region's floodplain forests. We show that the majority of Amazonian tree species can inhabit floodplains, and about a sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is ecologically specialized on floodplains. The degree of specialization in floodplain communities is driven by regional flood patterns, with the most compositionally differentiated floodplain forests located centrally within the fluvial network and contingent on the most extraordinary flood magnitudes regionally. Our results provide a spatially explicit view of ecological specialization of floodplain forest communities and expose the need for whole-basin hydrological integrity to protect the Amazon's tree diversity and its function.Naturali