Dissolved nitrogen in soil solution of the Jena Experiment (Main Experiment, year 2002)

This data set contains measurements of dissolved nitrogen (total dissolved nitrogen: TDN, dissolved organic nitrogen: DON, dissolved ammonium: NH4+, and dissolved nitrate: NO3-) in samples of soil water collected from the main experiment plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment; see further details below). In the main experiment, 82 grassland plots of 20 x 20 m were established from a pool of 60 species belonging to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). In May 2002, varying numbers of plant species from this species pool were sown into the plots to create a gradient of plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 species) and functional richness (1, 2, 3, 4 functional groups). Plots were maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. In April 2002 glass suction plates with a diameter of 12 cm, 1 cm thickness and a pore size of 1-1.6 µm (UMS GmbH, Munich, Germany) were installed in depths of 10, 20, 30 and 60 cm to collect soil solution. The sampling bottles were continuously evacuated to a negative pressure between 50 and 350 mbar, such that the suction pressure was about 50 mbar above the actual soil water tension. Thus, only the soil leachate was collected. Cumulative soil solution was sampled biweekly and analyzed for nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations with a continuous flow analyzer (CFA, Skalar, Breda, The Netherlands). Nitrate was analyzed photometrically after reduction to NO2- and reaction with sulfanilamide and naphthylethylenediamine-dihydrochloride to an azo-dye. Our NO3- concentrations contained an unknown contribution of NO2- that is expected to be small. Simultaneously to the NO3- analysis, NH4+ was determined photometrically as 5-aminosalicylate after a modified Berthelot reaction. The detection limits of NO3- and NH4+ were 0.02 and 0.03 mg N L-1, respectively. Total dissolved N in soil solution was analyzed by oxidation with K2S2O8 followed by reduction to NO2- as described above for NO3-. Dissolved organic N (DON) concentrations in soil solution were calculated as the difference between TDN and the sum of mineral N (NO3- + NH4+). In 5% of the samples, TDN was equal to or smaller than mineral N. In these cases, DON was assumed to be zero.

Dissolved nitrogen in soil solution of the Jena Experiment (Main Experiment, year 2003)

This data set contains measurements of dissolved nitrogen (total dissolved nitrogen: TDN, dissolved organic nitrogen: DON, dissolved ammonium: NH4+, and dissolved nitrate: NO3-) in samples of soil water collected from the main experiment plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment; see further details below). In the main experiment, 82 grassland plots of 20 x 20 m were established from a pool of 60 species belonging to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). In May 2002, varying numbers of plant species from this species pool were sown into the plots to create a gradient of plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 species) and functional richness (1, 2, 3, 4 functional groups). Plots were maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. In April 2002 glass suction plates with a diameter of 12 cm, 1 cm thickness and a pore size of 1-1.6 µm (UMS GmbH, Munich, Germany) were installed in depths of 10, 20, 30 and 60 cm to collect soil solution. The sampling bottles were continuously evacuated to a negative pressure between 50 and 350 mbar, such that the suction pressure was about 50 mbar above the actual soil water tension. Thus, only the soil leachate was collected. Cumulative soil solution was sampled biweekly and analyzed for nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations with a continuous flow analyzer (CFA, Skalar, Breda, The Netherlands). Nitrate was analyzed photometrically after reduction to NO2- and reaction with sulfanilamide and naphthylethylenediamine-dihydrochloride to an azo-dye. Our NO3- concentrations contained an unknown contribution of NO2- that is expected to be small. Simultaneously to the NO3- analysis, NH4+ was determined photometrically as 5-aminosalicylate after a modified Berthelot reaction. The detection limits of NO3- and NH4+ were 0.02 and 0.03 mg N L-1, respectively. Total dissolved N in soil solution was analyzed by oxidation with K2S2O8 followed by reduction to NO2- as described above for NO3-. Dissolved organic N (DON) concentrations in soil solution were calculated as the difference between TDN and the sum of mineral N (NO3- + NH4+). In 5% of the samples, TDN was equal to or smaller than mineral N. In these cases, DON was assumed to be zero.

Sight distance for traffic safety analysis using GIS

Sight distance is of major importance for road safety either when designing new roads or analysing the alignment of existing roads. It is essential that available sight distance in roads is long enough for emergency stops or overtaking manoeuvres. Also, it is vital for engineers/researchers that the tools used for that analysis are both powerful and intuitive. Based on ArcGIS, the application to be presented not only performs an exhaustive sight distance calculation, but allows an accurate analysis of 3D alignment, using all new tools, from a Digital Elevation Model and vehicle trajectory. The software has been successfully utilised to analyse several two-lane rural roads in Spain. In addition, the software produces thematic maps representing sight distance in which supplementary information about crashes, traffic flow, speed or design consistency could be included, allowing traffic safety studies.

Dynamical characterization of monolithic MOPAs emitting at 1.5 μ�m

Eye-safety requirements in important applications like LIDAR or Free Space Optical Communications make specifically interesting the generation of high power, short optical pulses at 1.5 um. Moreover, high repetition rates allow reducing the error and/or the measurement time in applications involving pulsed time-of-flight measurements, as range finders, 3D scanners or traffic velocity controls. The Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) architecture is an interesting source for these applications since large changes in output power can be obtained at GHz rates with a relatively small modulation of the current in the Master Oscillator (MO). We have recently demonstrated short optical pulses (100 ps) with high peak power (2.7 W) by gain switching the MO of a monolithically integrated 1.5 um MOPA. Although in an integrated MOPA the laser and the amplifier are ideally independent devices, compound cavity effects due to the residual reflectance at the different interfaces are often observed, leading to modal instabilities such as self-pulsations.

Functional characterization of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae DmeRF, a cation diffusion facilitator system involved in nickel and cobalt resistance

In prokaryotes, nickel is an essential element participating in the structure of enzymes involved in multiple cellular processes. Nickel transport is a challenge for microorganisms since, although essential, high levels of this metal inside the cell are toxic. For this reason, bacteria have developed high-affinity nickel transporters as well as nickel-specific detoxification systems. Ultramafic soils, and soils contaminated with heavy metals are excellent sources of nickel resistant bacteria. Molecular analysis of strains isolated in the habitats has revealed novel genetic systems involved in adaptation to such hostile conditions.

Design, development and construction of an outdoor testing facility for semi-transparent photovoltaic modules

Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is one of the most promising technologies enabling buildings to generate on-site part of their electricity needs while performing architectural functionalities. A clear example of BIPV products consists of semi-transparent photovoltaic modules (STPV), designed to replace the conventional glazing solutions in building façades. Accordingly, the active building envelope is required to perform multiple requirements such as provide solar shading to avoid overheating, supply solar gains and thermal insulation to reduce heat loads and improve daylight utilization. To date, various studies into STPV systems have focused on their energy performance based on existing simulation programs, or on the modelling, normally validated by limited experimental data, of the STPV modules thermal behaviour. Taking into account that very limited experimental research has been conducted on the energy performance of STPV elements and that the characterization in real operation conditions is necessary to promote an energetically efficient integration of this technology in the building envelope, an outdoor testing facility has been designed, developed and built at the Solar Energy Institute of the Technical University of Madrid. In this work, the methodology used in the definition of the testing facility, its capability and limitations are presented and discussed.

A Dynamically Adaptable Bus Architecture for Trading-Off Among Performance, Consumption and Dependability in Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-Physical Systems need to handle increasingly complex tasks, which additionally, may have variable operating conditions over time. Therefore, dynamic resource management to adapt the system to different needs is required. In this paper, a new bus-based architecture, called ARTICo3, which by means of Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration, allows the replication of hardware tasks to support module redundancy, multi-thread operation or dual-rail solutions for enhanced side-channel attack protection is presented. A configuration-aware data transaction unit permits data dispatching to more than one module in parallel, or provide coalesced data dispatching among different units to maximize the advantages of burst transactions. The selection of a given configuration is application independent but context-aware, which may be achieved by the combination of a multi-thread model similar to the CUDA kernel model specification, combined with a dynamic thread/task/kernel scheduler. A multi-kernel application for face recognition is used as an application example to show one scenario of the ARTICo3 architecture.

Metagenomic Anlaysis of microsymbiont selection by the legume plant host

Rhizobium leguminosarum bv.viciae is able to establish nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes of the genera Pisum, Lens, Lathyrus and Vicia. Classic studies using trap plants (Laguerre et al., Young et al.) provided evidence that different plant hosts are able to select different rhizobial genotypes among those available in a given soil. However, these studies were necessarily limited by the paucity of relevant biodiversity markers. We have now reappraised this problem with the help of genomic tools. A well-characterized agricultural soil (INRA Bretennieres) was used as source of rhizobia. Plants of Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris, Vicia sativa and V. faba were used as traps. Isolates from 100 nodules were pooled, and DNA from each pool was sequenced (BGI-Hong Kong; Illumina Hiseq 2000, 500 bp PE libraries, 100 bp reads, 12 Mreads). Reads were quality filtered (FastQC, Trimmomatic), mapped against reference R. leguminosarum genomes (Bowtie2, Samtools), and visualized (IGV). An important fraction of the filtered reads were not recruited by reference genomes, suggesting that plant isolates contain genes that are not present in the reference genomes. For this study, we focused on three conserved genomic regions: 16S-23S rDNA, atpD and nodDABC, and a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis was carried out with meta / multigenomes from each plant. Although the level of polymorphism varied (lowest in the rRNA region), polymorphic sites could be identified that define the specific soil population vs. reference genomes. More importantly, a plant-specific SNP distribution was observed. This could be confirmed with many other regions extracted from the reference genomes (data not shown). Our results confirm at the genomic level previous observations regarding plant selection of specific genotypes. We expect that further, ongoing comparative studies on differential meta / multigenomic sequences will identify specific gene components of the plant-selected genotypes

Profitability analysis of a femtosecond laser system for cataract surgery using a fuzzy logic approach

AIM: To define the financial and management conditions required to introduce a femtosecond laser system for cataract surgery in a clinic using a fuzzy logic approach. METHODS: In the simulation performed in the current study, the costs associated to the acquisition and use of a commercially available femtosecond laser platform for cataract surgery (VICTUS, TECHNOLAS Perfect Vision GmbH, Bausch & Lomb, Munich, Germany) during a period of 5y were considered. A sensitivity analysis was performed considering such costs and the countable amortization of the system during this 5y period. Furthermore, a fuzzy logic analysis was used to obtain an estimation of the money income associated to each femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (G). RESULTS: According to the sensitivity analysis, the femtosecond laser system under evaluation can be profitable if 1400 cataract surgeries are performed per year and if each surgery can be invoiced more than $500. In contrast, the fuzzy logic analysis confirmed that the patient had to pay more per surgery, between $661.8 and $667.4 per surgery, without considering the cost of the intraocular lens (IOL). CONCLUSION: A profitability of femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery can be obtained after a detailed financial analysis, especially in those centers with large volumes of patients. The cost of the surgery for patients should be adapted to the real flow of patients with the ability of paying a reasonable range of cost.

CODE final product series for the IGS

CODE, the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe, is a joint venture of the following four institutions:Astronomical Institute, University of Bern (AIUB), Bern, Switzerland; Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, Wabern, Switzerland; Federal Agency of Cartography and Geodesy (BKG), Frankfurt a. M., Germany; Institut für Astronomische und Physikalische Geodäsie, Technische Universität München (IAPG, TUM), Munich, Germany. It acts as a global analysis center of the International GNSS Service (IGS). The operational computations are performed at AIUB using the latest development version of the Bernese GNSS Software. In this context a final solution series is generated considering all active GPS and GLONASS satellites. It is published in daily files with a delay of about two weeks.

Benthic foraminifera in the Tasman Sea, Emerald Basin and Challenger Plateau

Im Rahmen des TASQWA-Projektes (Quarternary Variability of Water Masses in the Southern Tasman Sea and the Southern Ocean) wurde eine erstmalige quantitative und taxonomische Bestandsaufnahme der rezenten, benthischen Tiefseeforaminiferen der Korngrößenfraktion > 250 µm in 27 Sedimentoberflächenproben aus dem austral-antarktischen Gebiet durchgeführt. Es konnten 137 Arten bestimmt werden, wobei aber keine Art dominante Anteile in den Proben erreichte. Über benthische Tiefseeforaminiferen im untersuchten Gebiet existiert kaum Literatur. Es gibt zwar aus dem 19. Jhrd. sehr gut dokumentierte Foraminiferen in diesem Bereich, diese decken aber längst nicht alle gefundenen Exemplare ab. Erst um die Jahrtausendwende beschäftigten sich Autoren wieder intensiver mit den australischen und neuseeländischen, benthischen Foraminiferen. Aber auch sie drangen nicht bis in die Tiefsee vor, sondern blieben vorwiegend im Schelfbereich. Aufgrund dieser spärlichen Literatur ist jede einzelne Art ausführlich mit Synonymieliste und Abbildung dokumentiert worden. Die PAST-Analyse generierte mit den 137 Arten und den 27 Stationen sechs Faunenvergesellschaftungen, die überwiegend bathymetrisch zoniert sind. Ab 562 m beginnt am Campbell Plateau in der Hochproduktionszone die Bulimina-Vergesellschaftung. Diese Vergesellschaftung zeichnet sich durch die höchste Individuenzahl aus. Ab 959 m findet sich die Rhizammina-Vergesellschaftung, die im Untersuchungsgebiet am weitesten verbreitet ist. Die weniger oft anzutreffende Cibicides-Vergesellschaftung läßt sich ab 1660 m Tiefe finden. Nur in einer einzigen Probe an der Tasmanschwelle in 2146 m Tiefe, tritt die Reophax-Vergesellschaftung auf, in der die Textulariina überwiegen. Die weniger oft anzutreffende Ehrenbergina-Vergesellschaftung läßt sich ab 1841 m finden. In dieser Vergesellschaftung, in der die Artenanzahl fast an das Niveau der Hochproduktionszone heranreicht, halten sich Rotaliina und Textulariina die Waage. Im Emerald Becken ab 3909 m Tiefe beginnt die Jaculella- Vergesellschaftung. Diese liegt in einem echten Hungergebiet und besteht hauptsächlich aus Textulariina. Im gesamten Untersuchungsgebiet lassen sich durch die Probenauswertung vier unterschiedliche Lebensräume (Challenger Plateau, Campbell Plateau, Emerald Becken und Tasmanschwelle) ausmachen. Da jedoch nur zwei Sedimentoberflächenproben am Challenger Plateau genommen wurden, konnte dieser Bereich nur eingeschränkt mit den anderen drei Bereichen verglichen werden. Die Foraminiferengemeinschaften des Challenger Plateaus und der Tasmanschwelle können jedoch im oberen Bereich der Wassersäule auch nur eingeschränkt miteinander verglichen werden, da man an der Tasmanschwelle Sedimentoberflächenproben erst ab 1634 m genommen hat und am Campbell Plateau Proben ab 562 m vorhanden sind. Die oberen Bereiche (ab 562 m bis ca. 1300 m) des Campbell Plateaus sind Hochproduktionsbereiche, die die höchsten Individuenzahlen pro 10 cm**3 Sediment und die höchste Artenvielfalt aufweisen. Am Südwesthang des Campbell Plateaus läßt sich eine Abfolge der verschiedenen Foraminiferenvergesellschaftungen bis hinunter in das Emerald Becken nachweisen. An der Tasmanschwelle selbst läßt sich keine ausgeprägte Hochproduktionszone erkennen. Generell gibt es hier weniger Arten und weniger Individuen pro 10 cm**3 Sediment als am Cambell Plateau. Das Emerald Becken, als tiefster Bereich des Untersuchungsgebietes und als echtes Hungergebiet, nimmt eine Sonderrolle ein.

Album der Alten Pinakothek zu München : dreiunddreissig Farbendrucke, mit begleitenden Texten und einer historischen Einleitung /

Each plate accompanied by leaf of descriptive letter press.