Responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to UV-C radiation and Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis

 This work demonstrates the relationship between two seemingly unrelated stresses, and shows that exposing plants to UV radiation can increase their resistance to disease caused by a plant pathogen.

Memory, image, matter: Trauma and acts of un-forgetting

How might we conceive of the role of memory as a non-representational mode of commemoration that reconstitutes and transforms lived experience? In this paper I will draw on aspects on Indigenous epistemology and apply conceptions of memory outlines in works of Edward Casey, Henri Bergson and others to consider how social and psychological effects of trauma are manifested through generations. An understanding of the relationship between images, memory and matter and of memory as a primarily eidetic and material process may also help to suggest how some people may be able to avoid or overcome trauma. As image production, art-making generates images that like memory, perform acts of "unforgetting" through which the past is returned as a presence that is materially apprehended. This process can both sustain and transform individual and collective histories. Central to this idea is the notion that, the structure of mind and of memory are co-extensive with the external world an that the articulation of consciousness is crucially dependent on space and place.

The nuclear exclusion : what does it mean and who has been tampering with it?

A nuclear exclusion appears in all general insurance policies. Since its introduction to Australia and New Zealand in the 1960s this exclusion has seen almost no change. So what are the reasons for this article? There are two reasons. First, there has been a misunderstanding on the part of some in the industry about the scope of this exclusion. This results in unnecessary alterations to the policy. The other is that a new wording is emerging some sections of the market which could be tar-reaching in its effect. The purpose of this article is to examine several aspects related to the exclusion. The first section examines the nature and extent of exposures in relation to radiation and nuclear energy and serves as background to under standing the exclusion wording. Section two provides the reasons for the inclusion of the clause and its historical origins. Section three addresses the intended scope of the current exclusion and the final section examines the scope of a new wording that is appearing and the possible implications that may result.

Simultaneous presentation of measured and calculated environmental results

Continuous measurement of internal and external environmental parameters is critical to our understanding of how buildings perform. Yet, the quantity and variety of time-series data can be quite overwhelming as well as onerous to decipher and present. In addition to this, is the fact that several of the collected data are useless in their raw format unless processed through algorithms to obtain identifiable and meaningful results.
These circumstances challenge the conventional way we present accumulated data and their processed outputs in order to get a better understanding of how and why the environmental performance occurred. It would be ideal if all of the collected and processed data could be presented in a simultaneous, yet, useful format. It is exactly the intention of this paper to suggest and present such a process as well as its format.
An example case study is provided where several parameters (air velocity, mean radiant temperature, humidity and air temperature) are measured periodically to calculate a time-series of internal comfort performance. However, external conditions of solar radiation and solar position as well as air temperature drive the interior building surface temperatures and help to explain the end result of internal comfort.
A program has been written to present the various sets of data graphically, in an integrated manner, animated as a function of time. The animation shows solar position, a cursor scanning weather data, the changing infra-red image and a representation of the resulting internal comfort performance throughout the
monitored period.

X-ray diffraction line broadening from gold and platinum thin films

X-ray diffraction line profile analysis has been used to study the microstructure of (Ill) oriented gold and platinum thin films deposited by thermal evaporation and DC magnetron sputtering. In addition to crystallite size broadening, the profiles from these films displayed broadening arising from dislocations. A parallel investigation, using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was undertaken to study the nature of dislocations formed, and to provide information on the dimensions of the crystallite columns in the films. X-ray data were collected at room temperature to determine the anisotropy of the broadening with (hkl), using a Siemens D5000 powder diffractometer (CuKa radiation) and two high-resolution synchrotron instruments (BM 16 at the ESRF [A=0.35A] and station 2.3 at the Daresbury laboratory. Two approaches to instrument deconvolution were investigated; Fourier deconvolution and fundamental parameters profile fitting, using Lab6 as a reference material to determine the instrument profile function. After removal of the crystallite size broadening contribution from the measured integral breadths, the residual microstrain broadening was modelled assuming dislocations based on a FCC a/2<110>{ Ill} slip system. The results of the X-ray analysis agreed with dark field TEM micrographs, which showed that many of the crystallites contained dislocations of mixed character (screw- edge).

Sublime: process and mediation

The Sublime: Process and Mediation expounds on the concept of a 'Material Sublime' as relevant to the development of artistic practice. The author maintains that the creative process is generative, highlighting the connection between nature, the body, and latent forms of knowledge as revealed through material interaction significant in the activity of painting.  She argues for a co-emergence maintaining the sublime experience traverses a liminal space wherein binary oppositions such as the distinction between mind and matter are negotiated.   

Prospect of renewable energy sources and integrating challenges in Victoria, Australia

The Australian Government has targeted 20% of electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2020. The 20% renewable energy target (RET) for Australia will be around 45000GWH in 2020. Renewable energy of Victoria also includes as part of support to achieve 20% RET in Australia. In Victoria wind and solar resources are abundant as compared to other sources of renewable energy. Solar radiation and wind speed data for Victoria State was collected from NASA surface meteorology and solar energy web site. A feasibility analysis has been carried out to explore the potentialities of wind and solar energy for Victoria State using hybrid optimization model of electric renewable (HOMER) software. This paper also represents the estimation analysis of RET for Victoria and describes the integrating challenges of renewable energy sources to the utility grid.

Dust as an unalterable deteriorative factor affecting PV panel's efficiency: why and how

Electricity generation from solar energy has a great potential since it relies mainly on an abundant and clean source. However, there are many alterable and unalterable factors that can govern a PV module's efficiency. Dust is one of the location-dependent environmental factors that falls under the unalterable factors group. It can degrade the efficiency of a PV panel by causing physical damages, by attenuating the incoming solar radiation and by causing temperature rise, which results in changes in panel's electrical characteristics. Degree of degradation depends mainly on the deposition density, which is governed by various factors. Dust accumulation of 20 g/m2 on a PV panel reduces short circuit current, open circuit voltage and efficiency by 15–21%, 2–6% and 15–35% respectively. This work reviews, elaborates and summarizes the effects of dust on solar panel efficiency and the factors governing dust deposition on PV panel.

Runoff absorption potential of roofing materials

The main objectives of this work are to establish a relationship between solar radiation and equivalent temperatures for the radiation heat source (oven) to be used in the laboratory and to determine the impact of solar radiation on the absorption and evaporation potential of roofing tiles (glazed and unglazed). Based on the results obtained, it is justifiable to conclude that solar radiation do affect the evaporation and absorption potential of the glazed and unglazed tiles. There is a trend of decrease in both the absorption and evaporation potential of both tiles when exposed to decreasing solar radiation. The evaporation potential of the roof tiles is much higher than its absorption potential. This is clearly displayed in both types of tiles.

A morphology-related study on photodegradation of protein fibres

The wool fibre has a complex morphology, consisting of an outer layer of cuticle scales surrounding an inner cortex. These two components are hard to separate effectively except by using harsh chemical treatments, making it difficult to determine the susceptibility of the different components of the fibre to photoyellowing. An approach to this problem based on mechanical fibre modification is described. To expose the inner cortex of wool to different degrees, clean wool fibres were converted into ‘powders’ of various fineness via mechanical chopping, air-jet milling, ball milling or their combination. Four types of powdered wool (samples A, B, C and D) were produced with reducing particle size distributions and an increasing level of surface damage as observed using SEM. Sample A contained essentially intact short fibre snippets and sample D contained a large amount of exposed cortical materials. Samples B and C contained a mixture of short fibre snippets and cortical materials. Solid wool discs were then compressed from the corresponding powder samples in a polished stainless steel die to enable colour measurement and UV irradiation studies. ATR-FTIR studies on powder discs demonstrated a small shift in the amide I band from 1644 cm−1 for disc A to 1654 cm−1 for disc D due to the different structures of the wool cuticle and cortex, in agreement with previous studies. Similarly an increase in the intensity ratio of the amide I to amide II band (1540 cm−1) was observed for disc D, which contains a higher fraction of cortical material at the surface of the disc.

Discs prepared from sample D appeared the lightest in colour before exposure and had the slowest photoyellowing rate, whereas discs made from powders A–C with a higher level of cuticle coverage were more yellow before exposure and experienced a faster rate of photoyellowing. This suggests that the yellow chromophores of wool may be more prevalent in cuticle scales, and that wool photoyellowing occurs to a greater extent in the cuticle than in the cortex. Photo-induced chemiluminescence measurements showed that sample D had a higher chemiluminescence intensity after exposure to UVA radiation and a faster decay rate than samples A and B. Thus one of the roles of the wool cuticle may be to protect the cortex by quenching of free radical oxidation during exposure to the UV wavelengths present in sunlight.

The effect of planning design on thermal comfort in outdoor spaces

Urban outdoor spaces are considered essential elements of cities, where the greatest amount of human contact and interaction takes place. That is the reason why there is increasing public interest in the quality of open urban spaces as they can contribute to the quality of life within cities, or contrarily increase isolation and social exclusion. There are a lot of factors influencing the success of the outdoor spaces; one of the principal factors is the microclimatic comfort. In the hot areas, the outdoor thermal comfort conditions during the daytime are often far above acceptable comfort standards due to intense solar radiation and high solar elevations. The variation of the urban spaces' configuration can generate significant modifications of the microclimatic parameters. Design decisions such as street and sidewalk widths, shading structures, materials, landscaping, building heights, and inducing air flow have a significant impact on the pedestrian thermal comfort and subsequently on the use of the urban environment. Although it has been established that the vegetation elements should be considered as one of the main tools that can be used in improving the thermal comfort in outdoor spaces, the integration of the climate dimension in the planting design process in urban spaces is lacking because of insufficient interdisciplinary work between urban climatology, urban design and landscape architecture. The primary aim of this research is to study the influence of some of the design decision for the plantation elements in outdoor spaces on the thermal comfort of its users. This will provide landscape designers and decision makers with the appropriate tools for effectively assessing the development of urban environment while considering the microclimate of outdoor spaces. A special emphasis is put on summertime conditions in Egypt. Findings of this research will contribute to sustainable urban design of outdoor spaces.

Bevacizumab for the treatment of high-grade glioma

Introduction: Gliomas are highly vascular and rich in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that promotes angiogenesis. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody against VEGF inhibiting angiogenesis by preventing receptor activation. Phase II clinical trials using bevacizumab in both newly diagnosed and recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG) showed promising results.

Areas covered: This is a review of clinical trials investigating bevacizumab in newly diagnosed and recurrent HGGs with a focus on outcome results. A future perspective about the expected role of bevacizumab is given. Bevacizumab efficacy, safety and tolerability, the combination of radiation and bevacizumab as well as the use of bevacizumab to treat pseudoprogression are discussed. Further criteria of response evaluation needed to be adjusted in the age of anti-angiogenic therapy and this will be discussed.

Expert opinion: Bevacizumab has been shown to be safe and tolerable in HGG. In the recurrent disease setting, bevacizumab alone might be sufficient for a clinical benefit and is currently approved as a single agent for this indication. While clinical trials demonstrate a prolonged progression-free survival in bevacizumab-treated HGG, a benefit on OS has not been demonstrated yet. Bevacizumab has also been introduced into other settings in neuro-oncology including concurrent administration with re-irradiation for recurrent HGG.

Advances in the treatment of malignant gliomas

Local control with surgery, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy remain the pillars of treatment for high-grade gliomas. Novel therapeutic strategies, including a variety of antiangiogenic agents, are under investigation. One of these agents, bevacizumab, was recently given accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration as a single agent for recurrent glioblastoma. Recent trial results are generating important clinical questions regarding which patients to treat and when, and how best to monitor response. Encouraging results of recent studies are driving willingness to undertake aggressive treatment and to improve outcomes in this population. In this era, better understanding of biology, molecular aspects of cancer, and clinical trial methodology are crucial for clinicians. This review focuses on recent advances in the treatment malignant gliomas, especially antiangiogenic therapy.