El Motezuma de Vivaldi

This article explores aesthetic and historical aspects of Antonio Vivaldi's (1678- 1741) Motezuma (1733), in three acts, to celebrate this opera revival after the score's discovery and its first premiere at De Doelen theatre, Rotterdam (2005). Particular attention is paid to cultural aspects, regarding the European interpretation of the Conquest of Mexico.

Drainage and separation factors for static foams containing agglomerates of microbial cells

The presence of cell agglomerates has been found to influence significantly the rates of liquid drainage from static foams. The process of drainage has been modelled by considering the foam to be made of pentagonal dodecahedral bubbles yielding films, nearly horizontal and nearly vertical Plateau borders. The films are assumed to drain into both kinds of Plateau borders equally. The horizontal Plateau borders are assumed to receive liquid from the films and drain into the vertical Plateau borders, which, in turn, form the main flow paths for gravity drainage. The drainage process is assumed to be similar to that for pure liquid until a stage is reached where the size of the cell agglomerates become equivalent to those of films and Plateau borders. Thereafter, a squeezing flow mechanism has been formulated where the aggromerates deform and flow. The model based on the above assumptions has been verified against experimental results and has been found to predict not only drainage data but also the separation of cell agglomerates from broths.

The role of sustainable agriculture and renewable-resource management in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing sinks in China and India

This paper contains an analysis of the technical options in agriculture for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing sinks, arising from three distinct mechanisms: (i) increasing carbon sinks in soil organic matter and above-ground biomass; (ii) avoiding carbon emissions from farms by reducing direct and indirect energy use; and (iii) increasing renewable-energy production from biomass that either substitutes for consumption of fossil fuels or replaces inefficient burning of fuelwood or crop residues, and so avoids carbon emissions, together with use of biogas digesters and improved cookstoves. We then review best-practice sustainable agriculture and renewable-resource-management projects and initiatives in China and India, and analyse the annual net sinks being created by these projects, and the potential market value of the carbon sequestered. We conclude with a summary of the policy and institutional conditions and reforms required for adoption of best sustainability practice in the agricultural sector to achieve the desired reductions in emissions and increases in sinks. A review of 40 sustainable agriculture and renewable-resource-management projects in China and India under the three mechanisms estimated a carbon mitigation potential of 64.8 MtC yr(-1) from 5.5 Mha. The potential income for carbon mitigation is $324 million at $5 per tonne of carbon. The potential exists to increase this by orders of magnitude, and so contribute significantly to greenhouse-gas abatement. Most agricultural mitigation options also provide several ancillary benefits. However, there are many technical, financial, policy, legal and institutional barriers to overcome.

Deformation field in indentation of a granular ensemble

An experimental study has been made of the flow field in indentation of a model granular material. A granular ensemble composed of spherical sand particles with average size of 0.4 mm is indented with a flat ended punch under plane-strain conditions. The region around the indenter is imaged in situ using a high-speed charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging system. By applying a hybrid image analysis technique to image sequences of the indentation, flow parameters such as velocity, velocity gradient, and strain rate are measured at high resolution. The measurements have enabled characterization of the main features of the flow such as dead material zones, velocity jumps, localization of deformation, and regions of highly rotational flow resembling vortices. Implications for validation of theoretical analyses and applications are discussed.

Plasmodium falciparum Prp16 homologue and its role in splicing

Large numbers of Plasmodium genes have been predicted to have introns. However, little information exists on the splicing mechanisms in this organism. Here, we describe the DExD/DExH-box containing Pre-mRNA processing proteins (Prps), PfPrp2p, PfPrp5p, PfPrp16p, PfPrp22p, PfPrp28p, PfPrp43p and PfBrr2p, present in the Plasmodium falciparum genome and characterized the role of one of these factors, PfPrp16p. It is a member of DEAH-box protein family with nine collinear sequence motifs, a characteristic of helicase proteins. Experiments with the recombinantly expressed and purified PfPrp16 helicase domain revealed binding to RNA, hydrolysis of ATP as well as catalytic helicase activities. Expression of helicase domain with the C-terminal helicase-associated domain (HA2) reduced these activities considerably, indicating that the helicase-associated domain may regulate the PfPrp16 function. Localization studies with the PfPrp16 GFP transgenic lines suggested a role of its N-terminal domain (1-80 amino acids) in nuclear targeting. Immunodepletion of PfPrp16p, from nuclear extracts of parasite cultures, blocked the second catalytic step of an in vitro constituted splicing reaction suggesting a role for PfPrp16p in splicing catalysis. Further we show by complementation assay in yeast that a chimeric yeast-Plasmodium Prp16 protein, not the full length PfPrp16, can rescue the yeast prp16 temperature-sensitive mutant. These results suggest that although the role of Prp16p in catalytic step II is highly conserved among Plasmodium, human and yeast, subtle differences exist with regards to its associated factors or its assembly with spliceosomes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of integrated optofluidic lab-on-a-chip sensor based on refractive index and absorbance sensing

The analysis of a fully integrated optofluidic lab-on-a-chip sensor is presented in this paper. This device is comprised of collinear input and output waveguides that are separated by a microfluidic channel. When light is passed through the analyte contained in the fluidic gap, optical power loss occurs owing to absorption of light. Apart from absorption, a mode-mismatch between the input and output waveguides occurs when the light propagates through the fluidic gap. The degree of mode-mismatch and quantum of optical power loss due to absorption of light by the fluid form the basis of our analysis. This sensor can detect changes in refractive index and changes in concentration of species contained in the analyte. The sensitivity to detect minute changes depends on many parameters. The parameters that influence the sensitivity of the sensor are mode spot size, refractive index of the fluid, molar concentration of the species contained in the analyte, width of the fluidic gap, and waveguide geometry. By correlating various parameters, an optimal fluidic gap distance corresponding to a particular mode spot size that achieves the best sensitivity is determined both for refractive index and absorbance-based sensing.

Archeal lectins: An identification through a genomic search

Forty-six lectin domains which have homologues among well established eukaryotic and bacterial lectins of known three-dimensional structure, have been identified through a search of 165 archeal genomes using a multipronged approach involving domain recognition, sequence search and analysis of binding sites. Twenty-one of them have the 7-bladed -propeller lectin fold while 16 have the -trefoil fold and 7 the legume lectin fold. The remainder assumes the C-type lectin, the -prism I and the tachylectin folds. Acceptable models of almost all of them could be generated using the appropriate lectins of known three-dimensional structure as templates, with binding sites at one or more expected locations. The work represents the first comprehensive bioinformatic study of archeal lectins. The presence of lectins with the same fold in all domains of life indicates their ancient origin well before the divergence of the three branches. Further work is necessary to identify archeal lectins which have no homologues among eukaryotic and bacterial species. Proteins 2016; 84:21-30. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Influence of van der Waals and Casimir Forces on Electrostatic Torsional Actuators

The influence of van der Waals (vdW) and Casimir forces on the stability of the electrostatic torsional nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) actuators is analyzed in the paper. With the consideration of vdW and Casimir effects, the dependence of the critical tilting angle and pull-in voltage on the sizes of structure is investigated. And the influence of vdW torque is compared with that of Casimir torque. The modified coefficients of vdW and Casimir torques on the pull-in voltage are, respectively, calculated. When the gap is sufficiently small, pull-in can still take place with arbitrary small angle perturbation because of the action of vdW and Casimir torques even if there is not electrostatic torque. And the critical pull-in gaps for two cases are, respectively, derived.

非完整力学的第二类,第一类和中间类型变分原理

提出非完整力滨第二类微分变分原理，在此基础上建立一系列第二类积分变分原理，并由此出发导出“δｑ‘－δｑ普遍关系”和每类及中间类型积分变分原理的普遍形式，它概括了所有可能的δｑ’－δｑ关系和所有可能的积分变分原理，从而统一了所有的δｑ‘－δｑ关系和所有的积分变分原理。

Evaluación de diferentes períodos de enmalezamiento en viveros de pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus Britt y Rose)

El presente estudio se realizó en la finca Chelol, perteneciente a la cooperativa Ing. Humberto Tapia Barquero, ubicada en el municipio de Jinotepe, departamento de Carazo, durante los meses diciembre 96, a marzo 97, con el objetivo de evaluar diferentes periodos de enmalezamiento en viveros de pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus britt & rose) para tal fin se establecieron catorce tratamientos en un diseño completo al azar (DCA}, con veinte observaciones, los tratamientos evaluados fueron: Limpio todo el tiempo, enmalezado hasta los 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77 y 84 dias después de la siembra y enmalezado todo el tiempo, utilizando el máximo periodo de tiempo que los tallos modificados que se usan para reproducción asexual de este cultivo (vainas), deben permanecer en viveros (3 meses. La variedad utilizada en este estudio fue la variedad Orejona por ser ésta de interés para los productores de la zona, las variables evaluadas fueron abundancia, biomasa y diversidad de malezas. En donde la abundancia fue de 3 individuos por bolsa a los 21 días después de la siembra y de 6.25 y 6.65 a los 56 y 84 días después de la siembra, la mayor biomasa acumulada se obtuvo en el tratamiento enmalezado todo el tiempo a como era de esperarse y esta fue de 3.06g por bolsa, se identificaron veintiuna especies de malezas, cinco pertenecientes a la monocotiledoneas y dieciséis pertenecientes a las dicotiledoneas, las familias más representativas fueron las Poaceae, Astéraceae y Euphorbiaceae. En las vainas la formación de raices primarias inicia después de la formación de cayos, veintiocho dias después de la siembra, después de la aparición de esta las vainas comienzan a emitir brotes laterales que se presentaron de uno a tres, al momento de establecer los tratamientos y al final del estudio fueron entre 2 y 3 brotes, es importante saber que las vainas que presentaron un brote estos obtuvieron la mayor longitud. La mayor biomasa del sistema radicular fue obtenida a los 84 días después de la siembra. Es conveniente controlar las malezas a los 35 dias después de la siembra para estimular el crecimiento radicular.

Efecto de diferentes niveles de NPK en el comportamiento agronómico del tomate, en el Valle de Sébaco, Nicaragua

Se realizó un estudio sobre niveles de fertilización NPK en el cultivo del tomate cv. Rio Grande, en terrenos de la cooperativa "Leonel Valdivia" del Valle de Sebaco, Nicaragua, en el periodo comprendido de Noviembre 1998 a Marzo de 1999, con el objetivo de determinar las curvas de respuesta optimas a la fertilización N,P y la respuesta a la fertilización con potasio en la producción de tomate, los niveles de fertilizantes evaluados fueron: O, 60, 120 y 180 kg ha-1 de Nitrógeno; O, 40 y 80 kg ha-1 de P2 05 ; O y 80 kg ha-1 de K2O. Los Tratamientos evaluados fueron trece incluyendo tratamientos con y sin potasio para determinar su respuesta. El diseño experimental usado fue de bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones con un arreglo factorial 3x3 (N*P), para estudiar los efectos individuales y las interacciones a nitrógeno y fósforo. Las variables evaluadas fueron: altura, diámetro del tallo, numero de racimos por planta, población final y rendimiento. Los resultados evidencian que aportes de 180 kg ha-1 de nitrógeno combinadas con aplicaciones de fósforo y potasio inducen a un mayor crecimiento, diámetro y numero de racimos en la planta del tomate: sin embargo aplicaciones de 60-40-80 y 60-80-80 kg ha-1 de P2 05 y K2 0 respectivamente garantizan rendimientos significativos mayores de las 52 t ha-1 utilidades netas que alcanzan los 20000 Córdobas por hectárea, relación valor costo de al menos C$ 19.00 por cada Córdoba invertido en fertilización e índices de productividad máximos de 68.0 kg de tomate por cada kg aportado en fertilizantes

Caracterización de 16 genotipos de leguminosas herbáceas asociado con maíz en Niquinohomo y Managua

Este ensayo experimental documenta el comportamiento agronómico general de leguminosas herbáceas asociadas con maíz, bajo manejo en dos ambientes ecológicos diferentes de Nicaragua: Finca Santa Rosa, Sabana Grande, Managua y el Rancho Agropecológico en Especies Menores Ebenezer, RAEME, Niquinohomo, Masaya, para tal fin se emplearon como tratamientos 7 especies y 16 variedades de leguminosas herbáceas asociadas con maíz ( Zea mays) , variedad NB6, más maíz establecido en monocultivo, a los cuales se les analizó mediante las variables germinación, altura de la planta, diámetro del tallo, cobertura, presencia de daño foliar por insectos, presencia de malezas, porcentaje de materia seca, kg de materia seca por hectárea, número de nódulos, peso de raíz y porcentaje de Nitrógeno en biomasa de las leguminosas. El diseño del ensayo experimental constó de tres bloques al azar, dispuestos en forma perpendicular entre sí, cada bloque fue dividido en 17 parcelas. Al analizar los resultados se encontró que en la Finca Santa Rosa Vigna unguiculata verde brasil (vun1) y en RAEME, Vigna unguiculata 284/2 (Vun3) fueron la s leguminosas que presentaron mejor comportamiento, en relación al maíz, en la Finca Santa Rosa presentó mejor comportamiento al estar asociado con Vigna unguiculata 131-2 (Vun5), en RAEME, fue el maíz asociado con Centrosema plumieri (Cp). Así mismo los resultados indican que al asociar el maíz con leguminosas se obtienen mejores resultados que estando solo. Para ambos sitios se determinó que el mejor asocio fue maíz - Vigna unguiculata verde brasil (vun1), ya que proporciona para ambas especies calificaciones similares, demostrando un equilibrio entre los dos cultivos

1989年3月和8月太阳大事件的日地系统整体行为研究

<正> 1989年3月日面出现了近四十年来最大的黑子群,发生了剧烈的太阳活动,产生了重大的地球物理效应。对这些事件的联测取得了大量日地物理的资料。为了推动进一步的分析和研究,中国科学院第22周太阳活动峰年日地系统整体行为研究专家组于1990年4月23日至26日在北京召开了“1989年3月和8月重大日地事件观测与分析研

椭球空洞模型的韧性行为

<正> 1.引言为预测材料的韧性破坏,须了解其发生的起因、过程及最终破坏形式.对于韧性金属材料,已查明这与材料中围绕夹杂物所形成的空洞有关.近年来Hancock等以及Beremin研究组做了大量实验观测.结果表明,由空洞的聚合而导致的韧性