Bamboo : Analyzing the potential of bamboo feedstock for the biobased economy

Bamboos are a large group of rapidly growing woody grasses, that can be sustainably managed in short-cycled harvesting schemes in many parts of the world. Bamboo stands can be managed by individual producers and its production does not require large investments. This makes bamboo an ideal crop for rural development, especially in developing countries. Bamboo plants are among the most versatile and widely utilized plants, with applications varying from edible shoots to soil protection and construction. Bamboo technical properties are also favorable for biobased applications, such as paper, bio-chemicals and bio-energy

Nieuwe maat voor bodemvochtregime ook geschikt onder toekomstig klimaat

Huidige maten voor zuurstofstress in het wortelmilieu van planten, zoals de gemiddelde voorjaarsgrondwaterstand en het percentage luchtgevulde poriën, zijn niet geschikt voor klimaatprojecties. Dat komt doordat ze correlatief en indirect zijn en geen rekening houden met veranderingen in temperatuur en neerslagpatronen. In natte omstandigheden is de respiratiestress wel een geschikte maat. Met een nieuw model is die nu voor alle locaties in Nederland te berekenen. In de nieuwe maat komen zowel de effecten op de vegetatie van extreme neerslag tot uitdrukking als die van hoge temperaturen. Zuurstofstress door een hevige regenbui op een warme zomerdag zal onder het toekomstige klimaat veel vaker voorkomen. De door het nieuwe model berekende hoge respiratiestress van een dergelijke gebeurtenis zal leiden tot natuurlijke vegetaties van nattere bodems dan de huidige, niet klimaatbestendige maten voorzie

Structural and optical properties of Mg2NiHx switchable mirrors upon hydrogen loading

The structural, thermodynamic and optical properties of M

Massive gravity as a quantum gauge theory

We present a new point of view on the quantization of the massive gravitational field, namely we use exclusively the quantum framework of the second quantization. The Hilbert space of the many-gravitons system is a Fock space ${\cal F}^{+}({\sf H}_{\rm graviton})$ where the one-particle Hilbert space ${\sf H}_{graviton}$ carries the direct sum of two unitary irreducible representations of the Poincar\'e group corresponding to two particles of mass $m > 0$ and spins 2 and 0, respectively. This Hilbert space is canonically isomorphic to a space of the type $Ker(Q)/Im(Q)$ where $Q$ is a gauge charge defined in an extension of the Hilbert space ${\cal H}_{\rm graviton}$ generated by the gravitational field $h_{\mu\nu}$ and some ghosts fields $u_{\mu}, \tilde{u}_{\mu}$ (which are vector Fermi fields) and $v_{\mu}$ (which are vector field Bose fields.) Then we study the self interaction of massive gravity in the causal framework. We obtain a solution which goes smoothly to the zero-mass solution of linear quantum gravity up to a term depending on the bosonic ghost field. This solution depends on two real constants as it should be; these constants are related to the gravitational constant and the cosmological constant. In the second order of the perturbation theory we do not need a Higgs field, in sharp contrast to Yang-Mills theory.Comment: 35 pages, no figur

Bound states between dark matter particles and emission of gravitational radiation

Bound states of two weakly interactive massive particles are studied. It is assumed that the WIMPonium is formed due to the gravitational interaction, since the weak interaction can sometimes be repulsive. The lifetimes of the spontaneous emission of gravitational radiation and of the WIMPs annihilation into a pair of gravitons are computed, and are shown to be many orders of magnitude larger than the age of the universe.Comment: Accepted for publication in GER

Long-term quality of life in adult survivors of pediatric differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Context: Little is known about long-term quality of life (QoL) of survivors of pediatric differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate generic health-related QoL (HRQoL), fatigue, anxiety, and depression in these survivors compared with matched controls, and to evaluate thyroid cancer–specific HRQoL in survivors only. Design: Survivors diagnosed between 1970 and 2013 at age #18 years, were included. Exclusion criteria were a follow-up ,5 years, attained age ,18 years, or diagnosis of DTC as a second malignant neoplasm (SMN). Controls were matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Survivors and controls were asked to complete 3 questionnaires [Short-Form 36 (HRQoL), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20 (fatigue), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety/depression)]. Survivors completed a thyroid cancer–specific HRQoL questionnaire. Results: Sixty-seven survivors and 56 controls. Median age of survivors at evaluation was 34.2 years (range, 18.8 to 61.7). Median follow-up was 17.8 years (range, 5.0 to 44.7). On most QoL subscales, scores of survivors and controls did not differ significantly. However, survivors had more physical problems (P = 0.031), role limitations due to physical problems (P = 0.021), and mental fatigue (P = 0.016) than controls. Some thyroid cancer–specific complaints (e.g., sensory complaints and chilliness) were present in survivors. Unemployment and more extensive disease or treatment characteristics were most frequently associated with worse QoL. Conclusions: Overall, long-term QoL in survivors of pediatric DTC was normal. Survivors experienced mild impairment of QoL in some domains (physical problems, mental fatigue, and various thyroid cancer–specific complaints). Factors possibly affecting QoL need further exploration