The purpose of this study is tomeasure agricultural waste and estimate the environmental Kuznets curve in four East Asian countries using time series data from the 1960s to the 2010s. Positive ...nutrient balance (NB) suggests there is pressure on arable land, causing water pollution and greenhouse gases. For crop farming, only China's NB per arable land unit (NBAL) has risen recently, while NB per product (NBP) in all four countries has declined. Regarding livestock farming, NBAL in all countries except Japan has risen. Even more recently, China's NBP has risen differently to other countries' movements. The estimation results of the environmental Kuznets curve suggest China's NBAL will rise continuously with gross domestic product per capita increases in crop farming. For livestock farming, the estimated indexes are confirmed to have worsened with the advance of economic growth.
Observations of wound healing and regeneration of walking legs in specimens of Nymphon australe Hodgson, 1902, Nymphon charcoti Bouvier, 1911, Colssendeis tortipalpus Gordon, 1932 and Pentapycnon ...charcoti Bouvier 1910 archived in the U. S. National Museum of Natural History collections is reported. One hundred and ninety-four specimens of N. australe were analyzed for evidence of regeneration. Blastema formation and or regenerated limbs of reduced size were found in 64 individuals, 38%. Forty-four specimens of N. charcoti were analyzed for evidence of regeneration. A blastema and/or regenerated limbs of reduced size were found in 12 individuals, 27%. Fifteen specimens of Colssendeis tortipalpus were analyzed for evidence of regeneration. Five individuals, 33%, had either a fully regenerated walking leg of reduced size or a blastema was present. Ten individuals of Pentapycnon charcoti were analyzed for evidence of regeneration. None of these animals showed signs of regeneration. The Preferred Breaking Point (PBP), position of autotomy, was between coxa 1 and coxa 2. Regenerated limbs having all segments, but of reduced size were found in 5 specimens. In some cases, more than one walking legs had been regenerated or were in the process of regenerating as indicated by the presence of a blastema. A blastema formed on the end of the first segment of the chelophore was observed in a single specimen of N. australe. A blastema which was formed at the end of the second segment of the ovigerous appendage of C. tortipalpus was also observed.
We analyzed the three dimensional hydrodynamic characteristics around fully submerged dual breakwaters with a sandy beach using a newly developed three-dimensional numerical scheme. Using our model ...which considers wave-structure–sandy seabed interactions in a 3-D wave field, we were able to determine the direct effects of the porous media of submerged breakwaters and a sandy beach on the flow characteristics. We also used a large eddy simulation with a sub-grid scale model to compute eddy viscosity. The numerical analysis reveals that relatively large circular flows around the ends of the submerged breakwaters are generated, and that the magnitudes of these flows depend on the difference in the mean surface elevation between offshore and onshore. Three-dimensional analyses of the mean flow and the mean vorticity in the x–y, x–z, and y–z planes reveal patterns quite different from those revealed by prior 2-D numerical analysis studies. The distributions of wave breaking point and mean surface elevation around the submerged breakwaters are also analyzed and discussed in detail.
► A 3-D numerical model, LES-WASS-3D, was newly proposed. ► Wave breaking point over the crest increases as R/Hi decreases and Hi/Li increases. ► Difference of MSL between offshore and onshore increases as R/Hi and Hi/Li decreases. ► Circular flow becomes larger as MSL difference between offshore and onshore increases.
•The CSC-failure test is an alternative method for assessing low temperature properties of bitumen.•This new test method is a failure test with the dynamic shear rheometer at decreasing temperature ...until fracture occurs.•Operational parameters were analysed to develop a reproducible procedure applicable for different bituminous binders.•The CSC-failure test method is able to distinguish different types of bituminous binders and ageing states.•The mechanism of the failure consists in the fracture propagation radially inwards the sample from the outer edge.
Low temperature cracking of asphalt pavements is associated to the thermal stresses created when asphalt binder changes from a ductile into a brittle state during cooling. Under repetitive traffic loads, this change of properties can become a significant problem, resulting in the formations of large cracks on the driving surface, thus requiring early pavement repair. Nevertheless, the conventional test methods for assessing low temperature properties of bitumen are often insufficient and subject to low reproducibility. Therefore, a reliable method is necessary to characterize the performance of bituminous binders at low temperature. This work presents the cyclic shear cooling failure test (CSC-failure test) as an alternative method based on a failure test with the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) at decreasing temperature until fracture occurs. Operational parameters, like shear strain amplitude or loading frequency, have been analysed in order to develop a reproducible procedure applicable for different types of bituminous binders. Moreover, a failure criterion has been defined by analysing the different characteristic temperatures from the failure curves obtained in the test.
Mothers of alleged infanticides might claim that umbilical cord broke during precipitate delivery causing injuries detected on baby at autopsy. There is paucity of evidence regarding this ...possibility. The objective of the study was to determine relationship between tensile strength and diameter or weight per unit length of cord.
Diameters and weights per unit length of fresh umbilical cords were determined. Tensile strengths were measured by Hounsfield Testing Machine. Relationship between tensile strength versus cord diameter and weight per unit length were analyzed.
Of 122 cords, average tensile strength, diameter and weight per centimeter were 50.4 N, 7.73 mm and 6.87 g respectively. The tensile strengths were directly proportional to diameter. There was no association between tensile strength and weight per centimeter.
Measurement of the diameter of cord is important during autopsy to predict tensile strength and thereby to presume whether cord could have broken by the weight of the baby.
•Can physical properties of umbilical cord be used to predict tensile strength?•Umbilical cord diameter is directly proportional to tensile strength.•Weight per unit length is not related to tensile strength.•Forensic pathologists can get an idea of tensile strength by measuring the diameter of it.
The longitudinal tensile strength of single fibers of four rattan species, namely C. simplicifolius, C. nambariensis Becc. var. yingjiangensis, C. nambariensis var. xishuangbannaensis, and C. ...yunnanensis, was studied using a custom-built short vegetable fiber mechanical tester. The stress-strain curves produced by the four different rattans showed two distinct phases: a steep, straight segment in the initial phase followed by a straight line with a lower slope up to the breaking point. The respective average values for tensile elastic modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at breaking point of C. simplicifolius, C. nambariensis.var. xishuangbannaensis, C. yunnanensis, and C. nambariensis var. yingjiangensis canes were 10.61, 10.05, 9.10, and 9.54 GPa; 603, 566, 464, and 539 MPa; and 17.00, 17.24, 16.44, and 21.08%. The length position of the single fibers in the cane had variable effects on the three aforementioned properties for all four sampled rattan species. The tensile properties of C. simplicifolius fibers were highest. Compared with wood and bamboo, modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of the studied rattans were much lower, whereas elongation at breaking point of single rattan fibers was generally higher.
► The effects of cerebellar dentate nuclei lesions on motivation were examined. ► Lesions lowered breaking points on an operant conditioning progressive ratio task. ► Lesions decreased open field ...exploration compared to sham controls. ► These deficits occured without concomitant anxiety or motor impairment. ► Our results suggest a cerebellar role in global motivational processes.
Recently identified pathways from the dentate nuclei of the cerebellum to the rostral cerebral cortex via the thalamus suggest a cerebellar role in frontal and prefrontal non-motor functioning. Disturbance of cerebellar morphology and connectivity, particularly involving these cerebellothalamocortical (CTC) projections, has been implicated in motivational and cognitive deficits. The current study explored the effects of CTC disruption on motivation in male Long Evans rats. The results of two experiments demonstrate that electrolytic lesions of the cerebellar dentate nuclei lower breaking points on an operant conditioning progressive ratio schedule and decrease open field exploration compared to sham controls. Changes occurred in the absence of motor impairment, assessed via lever pressing frequency and rotarod performance. Similar elevated plus maze performances between lesioned and sham animals indicated that anxiety did not influence task performance. Our results demonstrate hedonic and purposive motivational reduction and suggest a CTC role in global motivational processes. These implications are discussed in terms of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism, in which cerebellar damage and motivational deficits often present concomitantly.
This study analyzes the temporal variation of different rainfall features in the central region of Argentina between 1960 and 2012, and evaluates the dynamics of temporal trends by using the ...Mann–Kendall–Sneyers (MKS) and Tomé–Miranda (TM) procedures. Under different criteria and levels of significance, rainfall time series show homogeneous behavior in more than 80% of cases. Only 18 of the 42 annual cases analyzed reached a significant long-term trend (p < 0.10). Total annual rainfall (AR) showed a significant increase only in Laboulaye Aero (LB) and Villa Dolores Aero (VD), but this does not currently persist. A decrease in the annual frequency of rainy days (DPF) is more widespread in the region. Thus, the increase in mean annual rainfall intensity (INT) seems to be particularly associated with the decrease in annual frequency of events (DPF) in the central region of Argentina. However, the increase in INT currently persists only at the Córdoba Observatorio (BO), as INT stopped growing for LB, Río Cuarto Aero (RC), and VD in the mid-1990s. The variation coefficients of total annual rainfall (ARCV) and DPF (DPFCV) have increased in the region, but with the former restricted locally to the Pilar Observatorio (PI), RC, and VM, and the latter to BO and RC. Long-term changes of the pluvial regime in the central region of Argentina appear to be not only local and restricted to some properties of rainfall during the period, but also reveal a particular dynamic where the long-term trends of the evaluated properties have now changed sign or maintain a certain constancy at present.
Two-step stool aerobic training for smokers Gimenez, Manuel; Saavedra, Pedro; Martin, Nieves ...
American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation,
2014-July, Volume:
93, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The aim of this study was to analyze subjective, physical, and physiologic responses to a standardized incremental 30-min two-step stool test to create an individualized 45-min maximally intensive ...two-step stool endurance exercise regimen for home training.
This is a longitudinal study on 26 consecutively referred male smokers aged 39-66 yrs. Each performed the two-step stool test on two 15-cm steps at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 climbs per minute. Exertional dyspnea, oxygen consumption per unit time, ventilation, respiratory rate, tidal volume, heart rate, capillary oxyhemoglobin saturation, physiologic cost index, and oxygen pulse were recorded and compared with those observed during incremental cycle exercise (30 W per 3 mins). Multivariate analysis for each parameter was undertaken as a mixed model.
All subjects attained 60 climbs per minute on the two-step stool test and performed 38-42 mins of two-step stool endurance. All parameters reached 80%-96% of cycle maximum oxygen consumption. The subjects found the two-step stool endurance simple and practical to perform at home. There were no complications.
The incremental two-step stool test is a simple, cost-effective way to establish a 45-min maximally intensive endurance exercise training program practical for use in the home.
Measuring variations in body mass is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of life-history patterns, and it provides information on the timing of sexual maturity and the ...development of sexual dimorphism. In this study, we collected longitudinal data on body mass from infancy to adulthood in a captive population of Tonkean macaques (
Macaca tonkeana
). Tests to evaluate whether social group, maternal age, and dominance rank influenced growth rates showed that they had no significant effect. We investigated the timing and magnitude of breaking points in the growth paths of males and females, and checked whether these breaking points could correspond to specific reproductive and morphological developmental events. We found that male and female Tonkean macaques have roughly equivalent body masses until around the age of four, when males go through an adolescent growth spurt and females continue to grow at a constant rate. Males not only grow faster than females, but they also continue to grow for nearly one and a half years after females have attained their full body mass. Growth rate differences account for approximately two-thirds of the body mass sexual dimorphism; only the remaining third results from continued male growth beyond the age where full body mass is reached in females. We also discovered remarkable correspondences between the timing of testicular enlargement and the adolescent growth spurt in males, and between dental development and slowdown breaking points in both sexes.
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