First total synthesis of a natural thapsane

A stereospecific first total synthesis of a natural thapsane 1, from the readily available cyclogeraniol 8, is described.

Estimation of variables at ungaged locations by empirical orthogonal functions

A technique based on empirical orthogonal functions is used to estimate hydrologic time-series variables at ungaged locations. The technique is applied to estimate daily and monthly rainfall, temperature and runoff values. The accuracy of the method is tested by application to locations where data are available. The second-order characteristics of the estimated data are compared with those of the observed data. The results indicate that the method is quick and accurate.

Analysis of an Aquifer-water table aquitard system

The problem of pumping an aquifer in an aquifer-water table aquitard system is considered, accounting for the elastic properties of both the aquifer and the aquitard, the gravity drainage in the aquitard and treating the water table as an unknown boundary. The coupled partial differential equations are nondimensionalised, yielding three principal parameters governing the problem. The numerical solution of these equations is obtained for a wide range of parameter values. Type curves are generated and their use is illustrated through a field application.

Analysis of flow near a dug well in an unconfined aquifer

A numerical analysis of flow to a dug well in an unconfined aquifer is made, taking into account well storage, elastic storage release, gravity drainage, anisotropy, partial penetration, vertical flow and seepage surface at the well face, and treating the water table in the aquifer and water level in the well as unknown boundaries. The pumped discharge is maintained constant. The solution is obtained by a two-level iterative scheme. The effects of governing parameters on the drawdown, development of seepage surface and contribution from aquifer flow to the total discharge are discussed. The degree of anisotropy and partial penetration are found to be the parameters which affect the flow characteristics most significantly. The effect of anisotropy on the development of seepage surface is very pronounced.

A salt of a protonated (amino)spirocyclic cyclotriphosphazene

The title compound 4,4,6,6-tetrakis(dimethylamino)-2 lambda(5),4 lambda(5),6 lambda(5)-cyclotriphosphaza- 1,3,5-trien-1-ium-2-spiro-2'-(2'-phospha-1',3'-diazacyclohexane) tetrachloroplatinate, [HN3P3(NMe(2))(4)(NHCH2CH2CH2NH)](2)-[PtCl4], contains a cyclophosphazenium cation in which the hetero-substituted (amino)spirocyclic cyclotriphosphazene is protonated. The protonation has occurred on one of the P3N3 ring N atoms adjacent to the spiro P atom. The protonation results in lengthening of the ring P-N bonds and puckering of the phosphazene ring. In the crystal lattice, 2n cyclophosphazenium cations are connected by n [PtCl4](2-) anions mediated by N-H...Cl hydrogen bonds to form a linear polymeric structure.

Coalition Formation With Communication Ranges and Moving Targets

A team of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with limited communication ranges and limited resources are deployed in a region to search and destroy stationary and moving targets. When a UAV detects a target, depending on the target resource requirement, it is tasked to form a coalition over the dynamic network formed by the UAVs. In this paper, we develop a mechanism to find potential coalition members over the network using principles from internet protocol and introduce an algorithm using Particle Swarm Optimization to generate a coalition that destroys the target is minimum time. Monte-Carlo simulations are carried out to study how coalition are formed and the effects of coalition process delays.

Field evaluation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity models and parameter estimation from retention data

Predictions of two popular closed-form models for unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K) are compared with in situ measurements made in a sandy loam field soil. Whereas the Van Genuchten model estimates were very close to field measured values, the Brooks-Corey model predictions were higher by about one order of magnitude in the wetter range. Estimation of parameters of the Van Genuchten soil moisture characteristic (SMC) equation, however, involves the use of non-linear regression techniques. The Brooks-Corey SMC equation has the advantage of being amenable to application of linear regression techniques for estimation of its parameters from retention data. A conversion technique, whereby known Brooks-Corey model parameters may be converted into Van Genuchten model parameters, is formulated. The proposed conversion algorithm may be used to obtain the parameters of the preferred Van Genuchten model from in situ retention data, without the use of non-linear regression techniques.

Simulation of ENSO-Related Surface Winds in the Tropical Pacific by an Atmospheric General Circulation Model Forced by Observed Sea Surface Temperatures

The authors present the simulation of the tropical Pacific surface wind variability by a low-resolution (R15 horizontal resolution and 18 vertical levels) version of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Interactions, Maryland, general circulation model (GCM) when forced by observed global sea surface temperature. The authors have examined the monthly mean surface winds acid precipitation simulated by the model that was integrated from January 1979 to March 1992. Analyses of the climatological annual cycle and interannual variability over the Pacific are presented. The annual means of the simulated zonal and meridional winds agree well with observations. The only appreciable difference is in the region of strong trade winds where the simulated zonal winds are about 15%-20% weaker than observed, The amplitude of the annual harmonics are weaker than observed over the intertropical convergence zone and the South Pacific convergence zone regions. The amplitudes of the interannual variation of the simulated zonal and meridional winds are close to those of the observed variation. The first few dominant empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) of the simulated, as well as the observed, monthly mean winds are found to contain a targe amount of high-frequency intraseasonal variations, While the statistical properties of the high-frequency modes, such as their amplitude and geographical locations, agree with observations, their detailed time evolution does not. When the data are subjected to a 5-month running-mean filter, the first two dominant EOFs of the simulated winds representing the low-frequency EI Nino-Southern Oscillation fluctuations compare quite well with observations. However, the location of the center of the westerly anomalies associated with the warm episodes is simulated about 15 degrees west of the observed locations. The model simulates well the progress of the westerly anomalies toward the eastern Pacific during the evolution of a warm event. The simulated equatorial wind anomalies are comparable in magnitude to the observed anomalies. An intercomparison of the simulation of the interannual variability by a few other GCMs with comparable resolution is also presented. The success in simulation of the large-scale low-frequency part of the tropical surface winds by the atmospheric GCM seems to be related to the model's ability to simulate the large-scale low-frequency part of the precipitation. Good correspondence between the simulated precipitation and the highly reflective cloud anomalies is seen in the first two EOFs of the 5-month running means. Moreover, the strong correlation found between the simulated precipitation and the simulated winds in the first two principal components indicates the primary role of model precipitation in driving the surface winds. The surface winds simulated by a linear model forced by the GCM-simulated precipitation show good resemblance to the GCM-simulated winds in the equatorial region. This result supports the recent findings that the large-scale part of the tropical surface winds is primarily linear.

Regioselective synthesis of bicyclo[4.2.1]nonane-2,8-diones via BF3.Et2O mediated intramolecular diazo ketone insertion reaction

Treatment of the diazo diones 11a-d with boron trifluoride diethyl etherate furnished the bicyclo[4.2.1]nonane-2,g-diones 15a-d in a highly regioselective manner. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mutation analysis of the SLC4A11 gene in Indian families with congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy 2 and a review of the literature

Purpose: Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy 2 (CHED2) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the solute carrier family 4, sodium borate transporter, member 11 (SLC4A11) gene. The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic cause of CHED2 in six Indian families and catalog all known mutations in the SLC4A11 gene. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from individuals of the families with CHED2 and used in genomic DNA isolation. PCR primers were used to amplify the entire coding region including intron-exon junctions of SLC4A11. Amplicons were subsequently sequenced to identify the mutations. Results: DNA sequence analysis of the six families identified four novel (viz., p.Thr262Ile, p.Gly417Arg, p.Cys611Arg, and p.His724Asp) mutations and one known p.Arg869His homozygous mutation in the SLC4A11 gene. The mutation p.Gly417Arg was identified in two families. Conclusions: This study increases the mutation spectrum of the SLC4A11 gene. A review of the literature showed that the total number of mutations in the SLC4A11 gene described to date is 78. Most of the mutations are missense, followed by insertions-deletions. The present study will be helpful in genetic diagnosis of the families reported here.

Determinar la efectividad del nosodes homeopático en el control del Dermatobia hominis (tórsalo) en la unidad de producción Balcar en el departamento de Esteli

El Dermatobia hominis (torsalo) es una de las patologías que mas afecta al ganado bovino, causa grandes perdidas económicas al productor así como a la economía del país. Con objetivo de brindarle al productor una alternativa para el tratamiento y control del torsalo se desarrollo en el departamento de Estelí el estudio” DETERMINAR LA EFECTIVIDAD DEL NOSODES HOMEOPÁTICO EN EL CONTROL DEL DERMATOBIA HOMINIS (TORSALO)EN LA UNIDAD DE PRODUCCIÓN BALCAR EN EL DEPARTAMENTO DE ESTELÍ. ”Para lo cual se seleccionaron cuarenta animales de forma aleatoria, estos eran terneros de tres a seis meses a los cuales se les aplico medicamento orgánico (nosodes homeopático)durante tres meses (junio, julio y agosto del 2005)donde se aplicaron cuatro tipos de tratamientos . Los resultados obtenidos revelan que el nosodes por digestión sin aditivos(A)y el nosodes por congelación mas aditivos (D) presentan mejores resultados positivos en cuanto a la reducción del ectoparásito.

高速高粘度液体射流的穿甲效果

为了研究射流粘度对穿甲的影响，用火药炮实验装置产生了速度为1．5～2．Okm／s的甘油射流，用曝光时间为180ns的可视化系统对高速甘油射流进行了流场显示。用甘油射流和水射流对4mm厚青铜板及3mm厚钢板进行了穿甲实验，验证了液体的粘弹性增加了射流的穿甲效果。实验还发现甘油的穿甲效果对甘油的体积分数有着依存关系，当体积分数为90％时效果最佳。

Evaluación del herbicida Benfuresate en el control de coyolillo Cyperus rotundus L. en el cultivo de ajonjolí Sesamum indicum L. variedad rama precoz en Nicaragua

Durante los meses de Enero a Abril de 1989, bajo condiciones de riego por pivote central, en un suelo franco arenoso, con pH 7.0, se realizó un experimento con el propósito de evaluar el herbicida BENFURESATE, aplicado en pre-siembra incorporado en el cultivo de ajonjolí una semana antes de la siembra, en la localidad de la finca "Praga", los Brasiles, Managua. Se utilizó la variedad de ciclo corto "rama precoz", en un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con 4 repeticiones y 6 tratamientos: 0.85 Kg/Ha i.a., 1.28 Kg/ha i.a., 1.71 Kg/Ha i.a., 2.28 Kg/Ha i.a.., control mecánico durante 5 semanas consecutivas y el testigo absoluto siempre enmalezado. En cuanto a rendimiento, se encontró que e1 tratamiento mecánico obtuvo los mayores rendimientos con 480.2 Kg/Ha de ajonjolí. El porcentaje de reducción del rendimiento de los otros tratamientos con respecto al mecánico fue el siguiente: 1.71 Kg/Ha i.a. con 31.1%, 2.28 Kg/Ha i.a. con 38.3%, 1.28 Kg/Ha i.a. con 40.4%, 0.85 Kg/i.a. con 60.2% y el tratamiento siempre enmalezado con 77.8%. Con respecto al peso seco de Cyperus rotundus L. al final del ciclo del cultivo de ajonjolí (a los 86 días después de la aplicación), el tratamiento 0.85 Kg/Ha í.a. obtuvo 49.7% de control, el tratamiento 1.28 Kg/Ha i.a. con 57.5% de control, el control mecánico con 70.5% de control, el tratamiento 1.71 Kg/Ha i.a. con 75.5% de control y el tratamiento 2.28 Kg/Ha i.a. con 77.4% de control sobre C. rotundus L., todos con respecto al tratamiento siempre enmalezado el cual alcanzo un peso seco de 10,554.4 Kg/Ha a 20 cm de profundidad.

水平动载下饱和砂土地基液化区扩展

　对一侧受沿深度分布的水平振动载荷时,半无限饱和砂土地基液化区域的扩展进行了数值分析。结果表明: 在水平振动载荷作用下,砂土地基液化区域从载荷端由近到远逐渐发展;随载荷强度和频率的增加,以及土体模量的减小,液 化发展逐渐加快。在考虑的频率范围内,随着载荷频率的增加,土体表面的变形和土中的孔隙压力上升速度增加。

Evaluación de cinco cultivares de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), en el Valle de Sébaco

El presente trabajo de investigación se realizó en la Estación Experimental Raúl González del Valle de Sébaco, Matagalpa en el período comprendido del 24 de Febrero al 1O de Junio de 1995. Con el objetivo de hacer una evaluación de cinco cultivares de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), cuyos tratamientos fueron cuatro cultivares de origen israelita (Ty-8472, Ty-8484, Ty-5656 y Ty-8479) y dos de origen Estado unidense (XPH-5979 y UC-82). Los objetivos de este experimento eran: Determinar la tolerancia de los cultivares de tomate a la virosis trasmitida por el adulto mosca blanca (Bemisia tabaci Genn) y evaluar el potencial de rendimiento de éstos. El experimento se estableció en un bloque completo al azar con cuatro replicas. Los cultivares de origen israelitas mostraron un mayor número de adultos de moscas blancas, tanto en semillero (2- 32 adultos/planta), como en la plantación (4-9 adultos/planta), con la excepción del cultivar Ty-8479, estos mostraron una menor incidencia de virosis. Esto indica que éstos cultivares pueden establecerse en localidades donde haya alta presencia de éste insecto, no obstante, es fundamental realizar un buen manejo agronómico y fitosanitario de la plantación. Los cultivares Ty-8484, XPH-5979 y Ty-5656 obtuvieron los mayores rendimientos (12.72, 1L70, y 11.47 ton/ha), debido a que éstos presentaron frutos mas grande, un mayor número de plantas cosechadas y mostraron tolerancia a la virosis trasmitida por Bemisia tabaci Genn, lo que se refleja en un mejor rendimiento de frutos.