Quantitative understanding of Congo River basin hydrological behavior is poor because of the basin's limited hydrometeorological observation network. In cases such as the Congo basin where ground ...data are scarce, satellite-based estimates of rainfall, such as those from the joint NASA/JAXA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), can be used to quantify rainfall patterns. This study tests and reports the use of limited rainfall gauge data within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to recalibrate a TRMM science product (TRMM 3B42, version 6) in characterizing precipitation and climate in the Congo basin. Rainfall estimates from TRMM 3B42, version 6, are compared and adjusted using ground precipitation data from 12 DRC meteorological stations from 1998 to 2007. Adjustment is achieved on amonthly scale by using a regression-tree algorithm. The output is a new, basin-specific estimate of monthly and annual rainfall and climate types across the Congo basin. This new product and the latest version-7 TRMM 3B43 science product are validated by using an independent long-term dataset of historical isohyets. Standard errors of the estimate, root-mean-square errors, and regression coefficientsrwere slightly and uniformly better with the recalibration from this study when compared with the 3B43 product (mean monthly standard errors of 31 and 40mm of precipitation and meanr² of 0.85 and 0.82, respectively), but the 3B43 product was slightly better in terms of bias estimation (1.02 and 1.00). Despite reasonable doubts that have been expressed in studies of other tropical regions, within the Congo basin the TRMM science product (3B43) performed in a manner that is comparable to the performance of the recalibrated product that is described in this study.
Paeonia ludlowii
(PL) and oil-producing peony (OP) are unique peony species in China. Due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids in PL seeds, it can be used as a new resource for OP. In this ...study, 137 compounds were identified in PL seeds in qualitative analysis by UPLC-Q-TOF–MS/MS, including flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acid esters, phenolic acids, etc. Except for 5 fatty acids, the other components were first reported in the literature of PL. There were 26 components exist only in seed kernel, 21 components exist only in seed coat, and 90 components exist both in seed kernel and coat. 35 of 61 differential components were first reported in the peony literature, and these components were identified in the chemical difference analysis between seed kernel and coat of PL, seed kernel of PL and OP, and seed coat of PL and OP. Quantitative analysis manifested that the weight of palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid accounted for 60.7% in the seed kernel of PL, while the average content in that of OP was 46.7%. Among them, the content of linolenic acid was about 3 times higher. This study further clarified the material basis of PL seeds, and also analyzed the chemical differences between the seeds of PL and OP. It was confirmed from the chemical level that the seed oil in PL was better than that in OP. The results of this study laid a solid foundation for the subsequent development of new products of PL.
This paper looks at the effectiveness of R&D grants for Canadian plants that already benefit from R&D tax credits. Using a non-parametric matching estimator and data from the 2005 Survey of ...Innovation from Statistics Canada, we find that firms that benefited from both policy measures introduced more new products than their counterparts that only benefited from R&D tax incentives. They also made more world-first product innovations and were more successful in commercializing their innovations. The paper gives also a detailed step-by-step explanation of how to apply the non-parametric matching technique. /// Cette étude examine l'efficacité des subventions à la recherche-développement pour les établissements canadiens qui bénéficient déjà de crédits d'impôt à la recherche. En utilisant un estimateur non-paramétrique d'appariement, nous trouvons que les établissements qui bénéficient des deux mesures de soutien à la recherche introduisent plus de nouveaux produits sur le marché que celles qui ne bénéficient que des crédits d'impôt. Elles réussissent aussi à mettre plus de premières mondiales sur le marché et à mieux commercialiser leurs nouveaux produits. Nous exposons aussi en détail les étapes à suivre pour une estimation non-paramétrique d'appariement.
Urban water management requires further clarification about pollutants in storm water. Little is known about the release of organic additives used in construction materials and the impact of these ...compounds to storm water runoff. We investigated sources and pathways of additives used in construction materials, i.e., biocides in facades' render as well as root protection products in bitumen membranes for rooftops. Under wet-weather conditions, the concentrations of diuron, terbutryn, carbendazim, irgarol 1051 (all from facades) and mecoprop in storm water and receiving water exceeded the predicted no-effect concentrations values and the Swiss water quality standard of 0.1 microg/L. Under laboratory conditions maximum concentrations of additives were in the range of a few milligrams and a few hundred micrograms per litre in runoff of facades and bitumen membranes. Runoff from aged materials shows approximately one to two orders of magnitude lower concentrations. Concentrations decreased also during individual runoff events. In storm water and receiving water the occurrence of additives did not follow the typical first flush model. This can be explained by the release lasting over the time of rainfall and the complexity of the drainage network. Beside the amounts used, the impact of construction materials containing hazardous additives on water quality is related clearly to the age of the buildings and the separated sewer network. The development of improved products regarding release of hazardous additives is the most efficient way of reducing the pollutant load from construction materials in storm water runoff.
The primary task of the IAG Sub-Commission on Gravity and Geoid in Africa is the development of the vertical reference surface (the geoid) for the entire African continent. For the practical solution ...of this boundary value problem, the available, arbitrarily distributed boundary data (gravity values) must be interpolated onto a regular grid for numerical reasons. In this paper it is explained in detail how to create this grid from the irregularly distributed point-gravity data. It is worth mentioning that this gravity database is not only used for geoid computation; it is also a stand-alone product used in earth sciences, as it reflects interesting geophysical signals. The gravity data available in this project are land and shipborne point gravity values as well as altimetry-derived gravity anomaly data. One challenge of preparing the homogeneous grid of gravity anomalies is caused by the inhomogeneous distribution of the observations and a lot of data gaps, especially on land. At these data gaps, gravity anomalies are provided on a so-called underlying grid from the GOCE DIR_R5 global reference model. One challenge in the framework of the least-squares prediction technique used is the determination of an empirical covariance function representing the behaviour of the irregularly distributed data points and the individual weights of the land, shipborne, and altimetry data and the underlying grid entering the process. A sophisticated filtering of the available gravity data is carried out to meet this challenge. The preprocessed data from the remove step are predicted to an equiangular
5
′
×
5
′
grid. Finally, a consistent restore step leads to the AFRGDB_V2.2 gravity database. The precision of the developed gravity database has been studied to assess the quality of the new product. The new AFRGDB_V2.2 gravity database is compared to the preceding one (AFRGDB_V2.0), which was generated using the window remove-restore technique.
The nonbiodegradable and nonrenewable nature of plastic packaging has led to a renewed interest in packaging materials based on bio-nanocomposites (biopolymer matrix reinforced with nanoparticles ...such as layered silicates). Bio-nanocomposite films based on soy protein isolate (SPI) and modified montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared using melt extrusion. The effect of different type (Cloisite 20A and Cloisite 30B) and content (0% to 15%) of modified MMT on the structure (degree of intercalation and exfoliation) and properties (color, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, thermal stability, and water vapor permeability) of SPI-MMT bio-nanocomposite films were investigated. Extrusion of SPI and modified MMTs resulted in bio-nanocomposites with exfoliated structures at lower MMT content (5%). At higher MMT content (15%), the structure of bio-nanocomposites ranged from intercalated for Cloisite 20A to disordered intercalated for Cloisite 30B. At an MMT content of 5%, bio-nanocomposite films based on modified MMTs (Cloisite 20A and Cloisite 30B) had better mechanical (tensile strength and percent elongation at break), dynamic mechanical (glass transition temperature and storage modulus), and water barrier properties as compared to those based on natural MMT (Cloisite Na⁺). Bio-nanocomposite films based on 10% Cloisite 30B had mechanical properties comparable to those of some of the plastics that are currently used in food packaging applications. However, much higher WVP values of these films as compared to those of existing plastics might limit the application of these films to packaging of high moisture foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
While many organizations see the value of creating a just culture they struggle when it comes to developing it. In this Second Edition, Dekker expands his views, additionally tackling the key issue ...of how justice is created inside organizations. Dekker also introduces new material on ethics and on caring for the’ second victim’ (the professional at the centre of the incident). Consequently, we have a natural evolution of the author’s ideas.
In this investigation, a novel water-insoluble slow-release fertilizer, biuret polyphosphoramide (BPAM), was formulated and synthesized from urea, phosphoric acid (H3PO4), and ferric oxide (Fe2O3). ...The structure of BPAM was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Subsequently, a coated slow-release BPAM fertilizer with superabsorbent was prepared by ionic cross-linked carboxymethylchitosan (the core), acrylic acid, acrylamide, and active carbon (the coating). The variable influences on the water absorbency were investigated and optimized. Component analysis results showed that the coated slow-release BPAM contained 5.66% nitrogen and 11.7% phosphorus. The property of water retention, the behavior of slow release of phosphorus, and the capacity of adsorption of cations were evaluated, and the results revealed that the product not only had good slow-release property and excellent water retention capacity but also higher adsorption capacities of cations in saline soil.
Zanthoxylum nitidum is commercially used in healthcare products for the improvement of tooth condition. Its fruit is also used as a spice. Three new benzenoids, (
...E)-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)benzaldehyde (
1), (
E)-methyl 3-(4-((
E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)phenyl)acrylate (
2), and (
Z)-methyl 3-(4-((
E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)phenyl)acrylate (
3), have been isolated from the stem wood of
Z. nitidum, together with 17 known compounds (
4–
20). The structures of these new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Compounds
8–
10,
13,
14,
17, and
18 exhibited inhibition (IC
50
⩽
7.95
μg/ml) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to formyl-
l-methionyl-
l-leucyl-
l-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Compounds
7–
9,
13,
14, and
17 inhibited fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with IC
50 values ⩽7.45
μg/ml.
