Extreme ultraviolet emission lines of Ca XV in solar and laboratory spectra

New R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation rates in Ca XV are used to derive theoretical electron density diagnostic emission line intensity ratios involving 2s(2)2p(2)- 2s2p(3) transitions, specifically R-1 = I(208.70 Angstrom)/I(200.98 Angstrom), R-2 = I(181.91 Angstrom)/I(200.98 Angstrom), and R-3 = I(215.38 Angstrom)/I(200.98 Angstrom), for a range of electron temperatures (T-e = 10(6.4)-10(6.8) K) and densities (Ne = 10(9)-10(13) cm(-3)) appropriate to solar coronal plasmas. Electron densities deduced from the observed values of R-1, R-2, and R-3 for several solar flares, measured from spectra obtained with the Naval Research Laboratory's S082A spectrograph on board Skylab, are found to be consistent. In addition, the derived electron densities are in excellent agreement with those determined from line ratios in Ca XVI, which is formed at a similar electron temperature to Ca XV. These results provide some experimental verification for the accuracy of the line ratio calculations, and hence the atomic data on which they are based. A set of eight theoretical Ca XV line ratios involving 2s(2)2p(2)-2s2p(3) transitions in the wavelength range similar to140-216 Angstrom are also found to be in good agreement with those measured from spectra of the TEXT tokamak plasma, for which the electron temperature and density have been independently determined. This provides additional support for the accuracy of the theoretical line ratios and atomic data.

Applications of statistical models in proportioning medium strength self-compacting concrete

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is generally designed with a relatively higher content of finer, which includes cement, and dosage of superplasticizer than the conventional concrete. The design of the current SCC leads to high compressive strength, which is already used in special applications, where the high cost of materials can be tolerated. Using SCC, which eliminates the need for vibration, leads to increased speed of casting and thus reduces labour requirement, energy consumption, construction time, and cost of equipment. In order to obtain and gain maximum benefit from SCC it has to be used for wider applications. The cost of materials will be decreased by reducing the cement content and using a minimum amount of admixtures. This paper reviews statistical models obtained from a factorial design which was carried out to determine the influence of four key parameters on filling ability, passing ability, segregation and compressive strength. These parameters are important for the successful development of medium strength self-compacting concrete (MS-SCC). The parameters considered in the study were the contents of cement and pulverised fuel ash (PFA), water-to-powder ratio (W/P), and dosage of superplasticizer (SP). The responses of the derived statistical models are slump flow, fluidity loss, rheological parameters, Orimet time, V-funnel time, L-box, JRing combined to Orimet, JRing combined to cone, fresh segregation, and compressive strength at 7, 28 and 90 days. The models are valid for mixes made with 0.38 to 0.72 W/P ratio, 60 to 216 kg/m3 of cement content, 183 to 317 kg/m3 of PFA and 0 to 1% of SP, by mass of powder. The utility of such models to optimize concrete mixes to achieve good balance between filling ability, passing ability, segregation, compressive strength, and cost is discussed. Examples highlighting the usefulness of the models are presented using isoresponse surfaces to demonstrate single and coupled effects of mix parameters on slump flow, loss of fluidity, flow resistance, segregation, JRing combined to Orimet, and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days. Cost analysis is carried out to show trade-offs between cost of materials and specified consistency levels and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days that can be used to identify economic mixes. The paper establishes the usefulness of the mathematical models as a tool to facilitate the test protocol required to optimise medium strength SCC.

A comparison of theoretical Si VIII emission line ratios with observations from SERTS

Recent R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation rates in N-like Si VIII are used to derive theoretical emission line intensity ratios involving 2s(2)2p(3)-2s2p(4) transitions in the 216 -320 Angstrom wavelength range. A comparison of these with an extensive dataset of solar active region, quiet- Sun, sub-flare and off-limb observations, obtained during rocket flights of the Solar EUV Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS), indicates that the ratio R-1 = I(216.94 Angstrom)/I(319.84 Angstrom) may provide a usable electron density diagnostic for coronal plasmas. The ratio involves two lines of comparable intensity, and varies by a factor of about 5 over the useful density range of 10(8)-10(11) cm(-3). However R-2 = I(276.85 Angstrom)/I(319.84 Angstrom) and R-3 = I(277.05 Angstrom)/I(319.84 Angstrom) show very poor agreement between theory and observation, due to the severe blending of the 276.85 and 277.05 Angstrom lines with Si VII and Mg VII transitions, respectively, making the ratios unsuitable as density diagnostics. The 314.35 Angstrom feature of Si VIII also appears to be blended, with the other species contributing around 20% to the total line flux.

The reform of Welfare Regimes in Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay

The aim of this article is to analyze the social policy in Latin America in a context of emerging welfare states. To understand the changes one takes into consideration the theories about institutional reform and the transformations produced in the XX century and the beginning of the XXI to substitute a social security regime mainly based on segmentation of benefi ts and on programs to fi ght poverty by another with an institutional and redistributive nature. The paper pays attention in particular to the path of the most developed welfare states of Latin America: Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, Brasil y Uruguay.

The relationship of clinical and inflammatory markers to outcome in stable patients with cystic fibrosis

Decreased survival in patients with cystic fibrosis has been related to FEV1, BMI, and infection with Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC). We have assessed the relationship of blood, sputum, and urine inflammatory markers to lung function, BMI, colonization with B cenocepacia (Bc), and patient survival. Thirty-nine stable cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (10 with Bc) were enrolled in a study to determine the effect of alpha-1-antitrypsin on airways inflammation. Pre-treatment measurements were used in this study. Demographics, sputum microbiology, heart rate, oxygen saturation, lung function were recorded. Blood samples were obtained for white blood count (WBC), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), and plasma neutrophil elastase/AAT complexes (pNEC). Neutrophil elastase (NE), neutrophil elastase/AAT complexes (sNEC), interleukin-8 (IL-8), TNF-receptor 1 (sTNFr), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured in sputum and urinary desmosine concentration determined. Patients with Bc had significantly higher levels of pNEC, 332?±?91.4 ng/ml (mean?±?SEM) versus 106?±?18.2 ng/ml (P?=?0.0005) and sNEC, 369?±?76.6 ng/ml versus 197?±?36.0 ng/ml compared to those who were not. Five deaths were reported at the end of 1 year, (four with Bc) (P?=?0.011). Patients who subsequently died had significantly lower lung function FEV1, 1.2?±?0.2 L versus 2.0?±?0.1 L (P?=?0.03) and FVC, 2?±?0.3 L versus 3.1?±?0.2 L (P?=?0.01), compared to those that survived. There was significantly higher NE activity, 3.6?±?1.6 U/ml versus 1.5?±?0.6 U/ml (P?=?0.03), pNEC, 274?±?99 ng/ml versus 142?±?30 ng/ml (P?=?0.05), MPO, 163?±?62 mcg/ml versus 54?±?6.9 mcg/ml (P?=?0.03), and urinary desmosines 108?±?19.9 pM/mg creatinine versus 51.1?±?3.3 pM/mg creatinine (P?=?0.001), in those patients who subsequently died compared to those that survived. These data suggest there is increased neutrophil degranulation in patients infected with Bc and these patients have a poor outcome.