The positive floating potential of high-temperature particles in plasma

It has been predicted that the floating potential of particles in plasma may become positive when the particle surface temperature is high enough, but, to our knowledge, no positive floating potential has been obtained yet. In the present paper the floating potential theory of high-temperature particles in plasma is developed to cover the positive potential range for the first time, and a general approximate analytical formula for the positive floating potential with a thin plasma sheath and subsonic plasma flow is derived from the new model recently proposed by the authors. The results show that when the floating potential is positive, the net flux of charge incident on the particle approaches a constant similar to the 'electron saturation' phenomena in the case of the electric probes.

Non-linear theory of a positive-column in a magnetic-field

A nonlinear theory of an intermediate pressure discharge column in a magnetic field is presented. Motion of the neutral gas is considered. The continuity and momentum transfer equations for charged particles and neutral particles are solved by numerical methods. The main result obtained is that the rotating velocities of ionic gas and neutral gas are approximately equal. Bohm's criterion and potential inversion in the presence of neutral gas motion are also discussed.

Los grupos de interés y la presión medioambiental

[ES] Uno de los motivos de mayor peso que inducen a las organizaciones a la implantación de sistemas de gestión medioambiental es la presión ejercida por los grupos de interés. La investigación aporta resultados sobre cuál es la influencia de los grupos de interés sobre la gestión medioambiental. Con este fin hemos analizado 142 centros de negocio españoles, poseedores de los certificados ISO 14000 y/o EMAS, estableciendo la relación de los grupos de interés y su influencia con el modo en que se realiza en dichas organizaciones la gestión medioambiental.

Organizational Structures and Strategies For the Hard Clam Aquaculture Industry in Florida

This study provides guidance on statewide organization for the commercial hard clam culture industry in Florida. The study characterizes the structure of and identifies strategies for successful agricultural and aquacultural organizations designed to provide the resources needed to solve current and projected industry problems. Objectives were to 1) characterize the structure of successful and relevant organizations, 2) identify successful revenue generating strategies, 3) provide the hard clam culture industry with options to help facilitate their organizational decisions, and 4) assist clam growers in Florida in developing an umbrella organizational strategy that will meet their future industry needs. (PDF has 60 pages.)

Mudanças econômicas e modelos de governação : democratização e desenvolvimento

Analisa-se que os mercados não existiriam sem instituições, que as economias se organizaram segundo várias modalidades de governação, originando contextos institucionais relevantes para a interpretação dos contextos econômicos das nações. A partir dessa premissa, desenvolve-se a suposição de que há três domínios principais que formam a base organizacional em que assentam as dinâmicas positivas do capitalismo – as relações industriais, os processos de inclusão pelo trabalho e pela aprendizagem e as instituições. Por fim, pode-se concluir que as instituições da esfera legislativa, especialmente as vinculadas ao desenvolvimento e à democracia, constituem elementos essenciais para a organização qualificada da economia, influenciando as capacidades gerais de uma sociedade.

On Bounded Strictly Positive Operators of Closed Range and Some Applications to Asymptotic Hyperstability of Dynamic Systems

The problem discussed is the stability of two input-output feedforward and feedback relations, under an integral-type constraint defining an admissible class of feedback controllers. Sufficiency-type conditions are given for the positive, bounded and of closed range feed-forward operator to be strictly positive and then boundedly invertible, with its existing inverse being also a strictly positive operator. The general formalism is first established and the linked to properties of some typical contractive and pseudocontractive mappings while some real-world applications and links of the above formalism to asymptotic hyperstability of dynamic systems are discussed later on.

Report from the Knowledge Exchange Event: Pathways to Open Scholarship

The report on the ‘Pathways to Open Scholarship’ conference, organised by Knowledge Exchange to celebrate its 10th anniversary, contains an overview of the views that invited speakers and experts in the audience expressed on Open Scholarship developments. Open Scholarship is not yet a reality of everyday research and education. The event reported on, addressed the concept of "open scholarship" by debating issues and key challenges with the aim to identify pathways forward. Four central themes which represent crucial dimensions of open scholarship have been explored: Benefits, risks and limitations of Open Scholarship; Success as a researcher; Technology; and Publishing and publication services. The report contains views, expectations, wishes and frustrations that experts have on open scholarship, as well as new and promising initiatives and approaches. The report is a starting point for future planning of KE activity and input for a range of consultation talks with respected experts and leaders in the research community in KE countries and beyond.

Clinical factors associated with a Candida albicans Germ Tube Antibody positive test in Intensive Care Unit patients

Background: Poor outcomes of invasive candidiasis (IC) are associated with the difficulty in establishing the microbiological diagnosis at an early stage. New scores and laboratory tests have been developed in order to make an early therapeutic intervention in an attempt to reduce the high mortality associated with invasive fungal infections. Candida albicans IFA IgG has been recently commercialized for germ tube antibody detection (CAGTA). This test provides a rapid and simple diagnosis of IC (84.4% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity). The aim of this study is to identify the patients who could be benefited by the use of CAGTA test in critical care setting. Methods: A prospective, cohort, observational multicentre study was carried out in six medical/surgical Intensive care units (ICU) of tertiary-care Spanish hospitals. Candida albicans Germ Tube Antibody test was performed twice a week if predetermined risk factors were present, and serologically demonstrated candidiasis was considered if the testing serum dilution was >= 1: 160 in at least one sample and no other microbiological evidence of invasive candidiasis was found. Results: Fifty-three critically ill non-neutropenic patients (37.7% post surgery) were included. Twenty-two patients (41.5%) had CAGTA-positive results, none of them with positive blood culture for Candida. Neither corrected colonization index nor antifungal treatment had influence on CAGTA results. This finding could corroborate that the CAGTA may be an important biomarker to distinguish between colonization and infection in these patients. The presence of acute renal failure at the beginning of the study was more frequent in CAGTA-negative patients. Previous surgery was statistically more frequent in CAGTA-positive patients. Conclusions: This study identified previous surgery as the principal clinical factor associated with CAGTA-positive results and emphasises the utility of this promising technique, which was not influenced by high Candida colonization or antifungal treatment. Our results suggest that detection of CAGTA may be important for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis in surgical patients admitted in ICU.

Eine Chance fur eine positive Bestandsentwicklung in der Ostsee? Hoffnungswoller Dorschjahrgang in der Ostee bestagtigt

Der Stratified Random Survey, der vom 22. 10. bis 3.11. 2004 in der Arkonasee, Kieler und Mecklenburger Bucht durchgef

Phase control of switching from positive to negative index material in a four-level atomic system

Electric and magnetic responses of the medium to the probe field are analysed in a four-level loop atomic system by taking into account the relative phase of the applied fields. An interesting phenomenon is found: under suitable conditions, a change of the refractive index from positive to negative can occur by modulating the relative phase of the applied fields. Then the medium can be switched from a positive index material to a negative index material in our scheme. In addition, a negative index material can be realized in different frequency regions by adjusting the relative phase. It may give us a convenient way to obtain the desired material with positive or negative index.