Modelling the Environmental Effects of Railway Vibrations from Different Types of Rolling Stock: A Numerical Study

This paper analyses the influence of rolling stock dynamics on ground-borne vibration levels. Four vehicle types (Thalys, German ICE, Eurostar, and Belgian freight trains) are investigated using a multibody approach. First, a numerical model is constructed using a flexible track on which the vehicles traverse at constant speed. A two-step approach is used to simulate ground wave propagation which is analysed at various distances from the track. This approach offers a new insight because the train and track are fully coupled. Therefore rail unevenness or other irregularity on the rail/wheel surface can be accurately modelled. Vehicle speed is analysed and the frequency spectrums of track and soil responses are also assessed to investigate different excitation mechanisms, such as carriage periodicities. To efficiently quantify train effects, a new (normalised) metric, defined as the ratio between the peak particle velocity and the nominal axle load, is introduced for a comparison of dynamic excitation. It is concluded that rolling stock dynamics have a significant influence on the free field vibrations at low frequencies, whereas high frequencies are dominated by the presence of track unevenness

Specific mapping of disease resistance genes in tetraploid cut roses

Control of fungal diseases is a major constraint of cut-rose cultivation in greenhouses and in transportation around the world. Therefore, development of resistant cultivars is a promising way to reduce the use of chemicals required for controlling the diseases. Genetic analyses and breeding for resistance, however, are hampered by the high degree of heterozygosity and the polyploid nature of cultivated roses. Nucleotide-binding site (NBS) profiling of Van der Linden et al. (2004) was used as a tool enabling a more directed way of studying the genetics of resistance to pathogens responsible for diseases such as powdery mildew. NBS profiling is a multiplex screening technique, producing amplified resistance gene (R-gene) and resistance gene analogue (RGA) fragments by using degenerated primers based on the conserved motifs present in the NBS domain of resistance genes. Since RGAs are abundantly distributed and highly polymorphic within the plant genome, NBS profiling generates multiple markers of putative resistance genes. Twelve NBS degenerated primer/ restriction enzyme combinations were used to genotype the whole rose tetraploid K5 population (Yan, 2005) and its parents. To generate RGA profiles, the restriction enzymes: AluI, HaeIII, Mse and RsaI were used in combination with degenerated primers NBS1, NBS3, and NBS5a6. The profiles were dominantly scored resulting in 106 polymorphic RGA markers which segregated in a 1:1 or 3:1 ratio. Uni-and bi-parental simplex markers will be mapped on the two available AFLP/SSR K5 maps (Yan, 2005) with Joinmap 4.0. The resulting parental tetraploid maps will be used to dissect the genetic variation for resistance to powdery mildew resistance. Additional Rosaceae SSRs mentioned in the literature are currently tested on the K5 population to obtain allelic bridges between the tetraploid and diploid genetic maps in rose and related species in order to align them. These bridges will improve cross-ploidy comparisons in roses in order to strengthen cut rose breedin

Corrosion and Grain Boundry Character Distribution(GBCD)in 316L Austenitic Stainless Steel

IGC (Inter-granular corrosion), in a single phase materials, is expected to depend on (a) Chemistry, (b) Grain size and (c) GBCD( Grain boundary character distr-ibution). In the present study, 316L austenitic stainless steel was deformed to different extent by unidirectional and by cross rolling. Subsequent solution: ing , i.e. a combination of primary recrystallization and grain growth, did not bring any noticeable difference in bulk texture. The GBCD, especially the 23 twin boundaries, were, however, significantly different. A difference of more than five times in low CSL (coincident site lattice) boun-daries were obtained. An effort was made to relate the effect of GBCD on corrosion - by DL- EPR (Double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation)

65-micron thin monocrystalline silicon solar cell technology allowing 12-fold reduction in silicon usage

Thin (<70 micron) single crystal silicon solar cells have been manufactured through the use of a novel process involving selective etching. Narrow grooves are micromachined through the wafer using a standard micromachining technique with cells manufactured on the resulting silicon strips. These bifacial cells have a much greater surface area than the original wafer, leading to dramatic decreases in processing effort and silicon usage. Individual cells fabricated using the new process have displayed efficiencies up to 17.5% while a 560cm2 prototype module has displayed an efficiency of 12.3%. The size, thickness and bifacial nature of the cells offer the opportunity for a wide variety of module architectures and applications

Resisting resistance : is there a solution for malaria?

INTRODUCTION : Currently, widely used antimalarial drugs have a limited clinical lifespan due to parasite resistance development. With resistance continuously rising, antimalarial drug discovery requires strategies to decrease the time of delivering a new antimalarial drug while simultaneously increasing the drug's therapeutic lifespan. Lessons learnt from various chemotherapeutic resistance studies in the fields of antibiotic and cancer research offer potentially useful strategies that can be applied to antimalarial drug discovery. AREAS COVERED : In this review the authors discuss current strategies to circumvent resistance in malaria and alternatives that could be employed. EXPERT OPINION : Scientists have been 'beating back' the malaria parasite with novel drugs for the past 49 years but the constant rise in antimalarial drug resistance is forcing the drug discovery community to explore alternative strategies. Avant-garde anti-resistance strategies from alternative fields may assist our endeavors to manage, control and prevent antimalarial drug resistance to progress beyond beating the resistant parasite back, to stopping it dead in its tracks.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iedc202017-02-28hb2016Biochemistr

Validation of less-invasive hemodynamic monitoring with Pulsioflex in critically ill patients

status: publishe

Genetic variation, heritability and genotype by environment interaction of morphological traits in a tetraploid rose population

Background Global trade has ensured that the ornamental horticulture continues to grow worldwide, with rose hybrids being the most economically important genus (Rosa x hybrida). Due to changes in global trade and an increase in energy costs the ornamental industry has seen a shift in the production and sale of flowers from the US and Europe alone to production in Africa and Latin America. As Kenya is a major exporter of roses to Europe we studied the genetic variation and heritability of specific morphological traits in a tetraploid population grown in the Netherlands and in Kenya. The aim was to estimate genotype by environment interaction (G???E) and to investigate the implications of (G???E) for rose breeding. Results A tetraploid rose population (K5) from a cross between two tetraploid parents was field tested over two seasons in the Netherlands (summer and winter) and two locations in Kenya (Nairobi and Njoro). Ten traits were compared per genotype across the four environments. There were differences in trait association across the four environments showing that the traits were partially influenced by the environment.The traits that had a low ratio of ?2 ge/?2 g also showed a high value for heritability. For the traits number of petals, prickles on petioles, prickles on stems the interaction is minimal. For the traits chlorophyll content, stem width and side shoots we observed a much higher interaction ratio of 0.83, 1.43 and 3.13 respectively. The trait number of petals had the highest heritability of 0.96 and the lowest ?2 ge/?2 g ratio (0.08). The trait number of side shoots (SS) with the lowest heritability (0.40) also had the highest ?2 ge/?2 g ratio of 3.13. Conclusion Results attained by this experiment showed that we have different magnitudes of non-crossover G???E interactions. For the traits number of petals, prickles on stems and prickles on petioles with a low interaction and high heritability, selection can be done at any of the environments. Thus, these traits can be confirmed at the breeding site. For the traits stem width, side shoots and chlorophyll content that had a higher interaction selection for or against these traits should be done at the production location or at least be verified there

Focus Raqqa: inventory of Museum collections and reconstruction of missing tablets

The National Museum of Raqqa in Syria has suffered immensely from the ongoing violence since 2011. Much of its valuable collection of movable archaeological heritage (ca. 6000 items) is considered lost. Starting from 500 of the most precious objects of the museum stored in the Raqqa Central Bank and stolen from there in 2013, the pilot project Focus Raqqa created a concrete, workable database to enable identification by Syrian and international police and heritage institutions. The project made a pivotal first step towards potential reconstruction of the Raqqa Museum in the future. The Raqqa museum collection included cuneiform tablets. Some of the tablets were cast before the war to allow detailed study in Europe. Today the tablets have vanished. The pilot project Scanning for Syria safeguarded information from the lost artefacts by making high-resolution three-dimensional scans of the silicone rubber moulds and subsequently physical replicas of the original objects by 3D printing. The short life expectancy (30 years) of the moulds necessitated measures for long-term preservation. The Scanning for Syria team not only succeeded at the preservation and sharing of knowledge in the academic circle. It also told the story of Syrian culture and its people to everyone for raising more voices in the united effort to keep cultural heritage safe in a zone of conflict. Digital Archaeolog

2D shear wave liver elastography by aixplorer to detect portal hypertension in cirrhosis: an individual patient data meta-analysis

Background & Aims: Liver stiffness measured with 2-dimensional shear wave elas- tography by Supersonic Imagine (2DSWE-SSI) is well-established for fibrosis diagnos- tics, but non-conclusive for portal hypertension. Methods: We performed an individual patient data meta-analysis of 2DSWE-SSI to identify clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), severe portal hyperten- sion and large varices in cirrhosis patients, using hepatic venous pressure gradient and upper endoscopy as reference. We used meta-analytical integration of diagnos- tic accuracies with optimized rule-out (sensitivity-90%) and rule-in (specificity-90%) cut-offs. Results: Five studies from seven centres shared data on 519 patients. After exclu- sion, we included 328 patients. Eighty-nine (27%) were compensated and 286 (87%) had CSPH. 2DSWE-SSI < 14 kPa ruled out CSPH with a summary AUROC (sROC), sensitivity and specificity of 0.88, 91% and 37%, and correctly classified 85% of pa- tients, with minimal between-study heterogeneity. The false negative rate was 60%, of which decompensated patients accounted for 78%. 2DSWE-SSI ≥ 32 kPa ruled in CSPH with sROC, sensitivity, specificity and correct classifications of 0.83, 47%, 89% and 55%. In a subgroup analysis, the 14 kPa cut-off showed consistent sensitivity and higher specificity for patients with compensated cirrhosis, without ascites, viral 2 aetiology or BMI < 25 kg/m . 2DSWE-SSI ruled out severe portal hypertension and large varices with fewer correctly classified and lower sROC, and with minimal benefit for ruling in. Conclusion: Liver stiffness using 2-dimensional shear wave elastography below 14 kPa may be used to rule out clinically significant portal hypertension in cirrhosis patients, but this would need validation in populations of compensated liver disease. 2DSWE-SSI cannot predict varices needing treatment