Liquid co-polymers as biodegradable surgical sealant

Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full descriptio

Glacial facies associations in a Neoproterozoic back-arc setting, Zavkhan Basin, western Mongolia

Diamictites, many of glacial origin, are globally distributed in the Neoproterozoic. Recently, two relatively thin diamictites in the Maikhan Uul Member at the base of the Neoproterozoic Tsagaan Oloom Formation from the Zavkhan Basin of western Mongolia have been identified as being of glacial origin. The Mongolian diamictites form a series of backstepping units within the transgressive systems tract of two major depositional sequences associated with sea-level changes. In each case the diamictites of the transgressive systems tract are abruptly overlain by deeper water, upward shoaling highstand systems tracts consisting of thinly bedded sandstones and shales in sequence 1 and thinly bedded, dark carbonates in sequence 3. The fact that the sequences conform closely to depositional models established at other localities suggests that all are related to major ice ages and that the depositional sequences they have generated provide a valuable tool for global correlation in this part of the stratigraphic column. Available stratigraphic and isotope geochemical information presented by Brasier et al. (1996, this issue) suggests that both diamictites are likely to be of Sturtian age. A riftogenic setting and Sturtian age for the diamictites provide a link with eastern Australia and western America. It is possible, therefore, that these diamictites formed during the breakup of a supercontinental assembly including Siberia, Australia and Laurentia c. 750-725 Ma B

Ensiling Safflower (\u3ci\u3eCarthamus Tinctorius\u3c/i\u3e) As an Alternative Winter Forage Crop in Israel

Israel is a subtropical country in which the rainy season is in winter, with frequent droughts. Wheat is the major winter forage crop in Israel, along with legumes as rotation crops. Alternative forage crops are sought that would be suitable for semi-arid areas. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is usually grown as a source for oil and pigments but spineless cultivars could be used as fodder. Leshem et al. (2001) reported DM yields up to 22 t/ha and high DM digestibility when used for heifers. When safflower silage substituted maize and wheat silage in the rations of lactating cows, milk yields and milk fat were similar in the two groups (Landau et al., 2004). Safflower was preserved satisfactorily by ensiling in mini-silos (Weinberg et al., 2002). However, on some farm scale trials, safflower silages spoiled upon aerobic exposure. The objective of the current experiments was to further study the ensiling characteristics of safflower

Secular Changes in Mongolia: Shift in Tempos of Growth

The patterns of secular changes in children and adolescents of the city of Ulаan-Baatar in the Republic of Mongolia measured in 2010–11 by the authors and in the group of children observed by Uranchimeg in the same place in 19891 have been analyzed. Total number of the investigated children and adolescents from 9 to 17 years of age was 1351. The last survey was conducted in accordance with bioethical procedures. The program included standard anthropometric measurements, descriptive characteristics2 and pubertal stages evaluation3. Mean age of development of secondary sexual characteristics was calculated graphically. For most of the anthropometric indices significant differences between the Mongolian teenagers of two series of measurements were revealed. The patterns of secular changes in body size confirmed the interaction of »tempo and amplitude«4: significant changes in pubertal growth were observed with the same average values at 16–17-year old boys and girls. The increase in body circumferences observed in modern Mongolian schoolchildren was possibly based on the increase of body fat component, parallel to the global trend worldwide

Marine fishes in the Black Sea: recent conservation status

A revised checklist of the fish fauna of the Black Sea is reported. This paper is the first attempt to present an actual Check List of the fishes in the Black Sea according to the data available in the Black Sea countries, as well as their current conservation status, enlisted in IUCN. The total number of the Black Sea fish species is 189. Concerning the conservation status only two species (1.06 %) are extinct (Acipenser nudiventris and A. sturio), 3.70 % are critically endangered, 16.40 % are vulnerable, 1.06% are endangered, for 10.58 % there is a lack of data, 26.46% has been classified in the category “Least concern”, 2.65 % are “Near threatened” and 38. 10% are “Not evaluated”

Kinetic study of Mongolian coals by thermal analysis

Thermal analysis was used for the thermal characterization of the coal samples. The experiments were performed to study the pyrolysis and gasification kinetics of typical Mongolian brown coals. Low rank coals from Shivee ovoo, Ulaan ovoo, Aduun chuluun and Baganuur deposits have been investigated. Coal samples were heated in the thermogravimetric apparatus under argon at a temperature ranges of 25-1020ºC with heating rates of 10, 20, 30 and 40ºC/min. Thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) were performed to measure weight changes and rates of weight losses used for calculating the kinetic parameters. The activation energy (Ea) was calculated from the experimental results by using an Arrhenius type kinetic model

Institutional Polycentrism, Entrepreneurs' Social Networks, and New Venture Growth

International audienceWhat is the interrelationship among formal institutions, social networks, and new venture growth? Drawing on the theory of institutional polycentrism and social network theory, we examine this question using data on 637 entrepreneurs from four different countries. We find the confluence of weak and inefficient formal institutions to be associated with a larger number of structural holes in entrepreneurial social networks. While the effect of this institutional order on the revenue growth of new ventures is negative, a network's structural holes have a positive effect on revenue growth. Furthermore, the positive effect of structural holes on revenue growth is stronger in an environment with a more adverse institutional order (i.e., weaker and more inefficient institutions). The contributions and implications of these findings are discussed.<br/