Interfacial behavior of tetrapyridylporphyrin monolayer arrays

The behavior of monolayer films of free base 5,10,15,20-tetrapyridylporphinato (TPyP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrapyridylporphinato zinc(II) (ZnTPyP) on pure water, 0.1 M CdCl2, and 0.1 M CuCl2 subphases was investigated by surface pressure-area isotherms, specular X-ray reflectometry, and polarized total reflection X-ray absorption spectroscopy (PTRXAS). Surface pressure-area isotherms showed significant differences in the area per molecule on pure water compared to that on salt subphases, with a marked increase in the area observed on the salt solutions. This behavior was noted for both forms of the porphyrin and both salts investigated. Modeling of specular X-ray reflectometry data indicated that thinner and more electron dense layers on salt subphases best fit the observed profiles. These data suggest that the porphyrin macrocycle is oriented parallel to the interface on salt subphases and takes on a tilted conformation on pure water. In the case of ZnTPyP, PTRXAS was used to determine the orientation of the porphyrin moiety relative to the surface and to probe the coordination of the central Zn ion. In agreement with the pressure-area isotherms and reflectometry, the PTRXAS data indicate a change in orientation on the salt subphases.

Nanoscale tubular vessels for storage of methane at ambient temperatures

Novel carbon nanostructures can serve as effective storage media for methane, a source of clean energy for the future. We have used Grand Canonical Monte Carlo Simulation for the modeling of methane storage at 293 K and pressures up to 80 MPa in idealized bundles of (10,10) armchair-type single-walled carbon nanotubes and wormlike carbon pores. We have found that these carbon nanomaterials can be treated as the world's smallest high-capacity methane storage vessels. Our simulation results indicate that such novel carbon nanostructures can reach a high volumetric energy storage, exceeding the US FreedomCAR Partnership target of 2010 (5.4 MJ dm(-3)), at low to moderate pressures ranging from 1 to 7 MPa at 293 K. On the contrary, in the absence of these nanomaterials, methane needs to be compressed to approximately 13 MPa at 293 K to achieve the same target. The light carbon membranes composed of bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes or wormlike pores efficiently physisorb methane at low to moderate pressures at 293 K, which we believe should be particularly important for automobiles and stationary devices. However, above 15-20 MPa at 293 K, all investigated samples of novel carbon nanomaterials are not as effective when compared with compression alone since the stored volumetric energy and power saturate at values below those of the bulk, compressed fluid.

Allergy - 5: Allergy and the skin: eczema and chronic urticaria

Eczema is common, occurring in 15%-20% of infants and young children. For some infants it can be a severe chronic illness with a major impact on the child's general health and on the family. A minority of children will continue to have eczema as adults. The exact cause of eczema is not clear, but precipitating or aggravating factors may include food allergens (most commonly, egg) or environmental allergens/irritants, climatic conditions, stress. and genetic predisposition. Management of eczema consists of education; avoidance of triggers and allergens; liberal use of emollients or topical steroids to control inflammation; use of antihistamines to reduce itch; and treatment of infection if present. Treatment with systemic agents may be required in severe cases, but must be supervised by an immunologist. Urticaria (hives) may affect up to a quarter of people at some time in their lives. Acute urticaria is more common in children, while chronic urticaria is more common in adults. Chronic urticaria is not life-threatening, but the associated pruritus and unsightly weals can cause patients much distress and significantly affect their daily lives. Angioedema coexists with urticaria in about 50% of patients. It typically affects the lips, eyelids, palms, soles and genitalia. Management of urticaria is through education; avoidance of triggers and allergens (where relevant); use of antihistamines to reduce itch; and short-term use of corticosteroids when antihistamine therapy is ineffective. Referral is indicated for patients with resistant disease.

ESTRESSE, DEPRESSÃO, SATISFAÇÃO SEXUAL, VIVÊNCIAS EMOCIONAIS E QUALIDADE DE VIDA EM PACIENTES DE AMBULATÓRIOS DE REPRODUÇÃO HUMANA

Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar a Qualidade de Vida (QV), sintomas depressivos, estresse, satisfação sexual e vivências emocionais em pacientes que apresentam infertilidade. Participaram deste estudo 500 pessoas (mulheres e homens), com idade igual ou maior a 18 anos, pacientes de um ambulatório de reprodução humana localizado no Grande ABC Paulista. O estudo utilizou instrumentos de avaliação autoaplicáveis: WHOQOL-Bref, BDI-II, ISQ, ICQ, ISS e questionário sócio-demográfico. A caracterização da amostra estudada demostrou alto nível escolar (62,4pc), boa condição econômica (80,2pc, idade superior a 30 anos (82,8pc) e a maioria apresenta infertilidade primária (73,2pc). Quanto à QV, níveis de depressão e estresse os homens apresentam melhores resultados quando comparados às mulheres. No que ser refere aos níveis de satisfação sexual 56,6% dos participantes descrevem ter satisfação sexual, mas 45,4% afirmam ter insatisfação sexual e não houve diferença entre os gêneros. As análises dos dados mostraram que é maior o número de mulheres do que o de homens que procuram atendimento para infertilidade (64,8pc). Pôde-se comprovar que além das dificuldades provenientes da infertilidade, o tratamento, também, impacta sobre a vida dessas pessoas. Foram diversos participantes que descreveram significativas mudanças (42,8pc), dos quais apontaram em maioria absoluta (92,6pc) uma piora no estado de humor devido ao tratamento. Como também é alto o índice de pessoas que descrevem sintomas de depressão (38,8pc) e estresse (31,4pc) acima da média da população geral. Ao considerar as especificidades da qualidade de vida averiguou-se um maior impacto no domínio psicológico dos pacientes (15,20 pontos) comparado ao físico (15,68 pontos). Estes resultados ressaltam a importância do atendimento psicológico para as pessoas em programas de reprodução humana.

The development of calibration and adaptive filtering procedures for neuromagnetic studies of human visual function

This thesis first considers the calibration and signal processing requirements of a neuromagnetometer for the measurement of human visual function. Gradiometer calibration using straight wire grids is examined and optimal grid configurations determined, given realistic constructional tolerances. Simulations show that for gradiometer balance of 1:104 and wire spacing error of 0.25mm the achievable calibration accuracy of gain is 0.3%, of position is 0.3mm and of orientation is 0.6°. Practical results with a 19-channel 2nd-order gradiometer based system exceed this performance. The real-time application of adaptive reference noise cancellation filtering to running-average evoked response data is examined. In the steady state, the filter can be assumed to be driven by a non-stationary step input arising at epoch boundaries. Based on empirical measures of this driving step an optimal progression for the filter time constant is proposed which improves upon fixed time constant filter performance. The incorporation of the time-derivatives of the reference channels was found to improve the performance of the adaptive filtering algorithm by 15-20% for unaveraged data, falling to 5% with averaging. The thesis concludes with a neuromagnetic investigation of evoked cortical responses to chromatic and luminance grating stimuli. The global magnetic field power of evoked responses to the onset of sinusoidal gratings was shown to have distinct chromatic and luminance sensitive components. Analysis of the results, using a single equivalent current dipole model, shows that these components arise from activity within two distinct cortical locations. Co-registration of the resulting current source localisations with MRI shows a chromatically responsive area lying along the midline within the calcarine fissure, possibly extending onto the lingual and cuneal gyri. It is postulated that this area is the human homologue of the primate cortical area V4.

Customer loyalty among daily disposable contact lens wearers

Background: Optometric practices offer contact lenses as cash sale items or as part of monthly payment plans. With the contact lens market becoming increasingly competitive, patients are opting to purchase lenses from supermarkets and Internet suppliers. Monthly payment plans are often implemented to improve loyalty. This study aimed to compare behavioural loyalty between monthly payment plan members and non-members. Methods: BBR Optometry Ltd offers a monthly payment plan (Eyelife™) to their contact lens wearers. A retrospective audit of 38 Eyelife™ members (mean. ±. SD: 42.7. ±. 15.0 years) and 30 non-members (mean. ±. SD: 40.8. ±. 16.7 years) was conducted. Revenue and profits generated, service uptake and product sales between the two groups were compared over a fixed period of 18 months. Results: Eyelife™ members generated significantly higher professional fee revenue ( P<. 0.001), £153.96 compared to £83.50, and profits ( P<. 0.001). Eyelife™ members had a higher uptake of eye examinations ( P<. 0.001). The 2 groups demonstrated no significant difference in spectacle sales by volume ( P= 0.790) or value ( P= 0.369). There were also no significant differences in contact lens revenue ( P= 0.337), although Eyelife™ members did receive a discount. The Eyelife™ group incurred higher contact lens costs ( P= 0.037), due to a greater volume of contact lens purchases, 986 units compared to 582. Conclusions: Monthly payment plans improve loyalty among contact lens wearers, particularly service uptake and volume of lens purchases. Additionally the greater professional fees generated, render monthly payment plans an attractive business model and practice builder.

Decreased efficiency of trypsinization of cells following photodynamic therapy:evaluation of a role for tissue transglutaminase

Identifying the cellular responses to photodynamic therapy (PDT) is important if the mechanisms of cellular damage are to be fully understood. The relationship between sensitizer, fluence rate and the removal of cells by trypsinization was studied using the RIF-1 cell line. Following treatment of RIF-1 cells with pyridinium zinc (II) phthalocyanine (PPC), or polyhaematoporphyrin at 10 mW cm−2 (3 J cm−2), there was a significant number of cells that were not removed by trypsin incubation compared to controls. Decreasing the fluence rate from 10 to 2.5 mW cm−2 resulted in a two-fold increase in the number of cells attached to the substratum when PPC used as sensitizer; however, with 5,10,15,20 meso-tetra(hydroxyphenyl) chlorin (m-THPC) there was no resistance to trypsinization following treatment at either fluence rate. The results indicate that resistance of cells to trypsinization following PDT is likely to be both sensitizer and fluence rate dependent. Increased activity of the enzyme tissue-transglutaminase (tTGase) was observed following PPC-PDT, but not following m-THPC-PDT. Similar results were obtained using HT29 human colonic carcinoma and ECV304 human umbilical vein endothelial cell lines. Hamster fibrosarcoma cell (Met B) clones transfected with human tTGase also exhibited resistance to trypsinization following PPC-mediated photosensitization; however, a similar degree of resistance was observed in PDT-treated control Met B cells suggesting that tTGase activity alone was not involved in this process.

Age models, accumulation rates, and grain size distributions of sediment cores from the northern subtropical Atlantic

The terrigenous sediment proportion of the deep sea sediments from off Northwest Africa has been studied in order to distinguish between the aeolian and the fluvial sediment supply. The present and fossil Saharan dust trajectories were recognized from the distribution patterns of the aeolian sediment. The following timeslices have been investigated: Present, 6,000, 12,000 and 18,000 y. B. P. Furthermore, the quantity of dust deposited off the Saharan coast has been estimated. For this purpose, 80 surface sediment samples and 34 sediment cores have been analysed. The stratigraphy of the cores has been achieved from oxygen isotopic curves, 14C-dating, foraminiferal transfer temperatures, and carbonate contents. Silt sized biogenic opal generally accounts for less than 2 % of the total insoluble sediment proportion. Only under productive upwelling waters and off river mouths, the opal proportion exceeds 2 % significantly. The modern terrigenous sediment from off the Saharan coast is generally characterized by intensely stained quartz grains. They indicate an origin from southern Saharan and Sahelian laterites, and a zonal aeolian transport in midtropospheric levels, between 1.5 an 5.5 km, by 'Harmattan' Winds. The dust particles follow large outbreaks of Saharan air across the African coast between 15° and 21° N. Their trajectories are centered at about 18° N and continue further into a clockwise gyre situated south of the Canary Islands. This course is indicated by a sickle-shaped tongue of coarser grain sizes in the deep-sea sediment. Such loess-sized terrigenous particles only settle within a zone extending to 700 km offshore. Fine silt and clay sized particles, with grain sizes smaller than 10- 15 µm, drift still further west and can be traced up to more than 4,000 km distance from their source areas. Additional terrigenous silt which is poor in stained quartz occurs within a narrow zone off the western Sahara between 20° and 27° N only. It depicts the present dust supply by the trade winds close to the surface. The dust load originates from the northwestern Sahara, the Atlas Mountains and coastal areas, which contain a particularly low amount of stained quartz. The distribution pattern of these pale quartz sediments reveals a SSW-dispersal of dust being consistent with the present trade wind direction from the NNE. In comparison to the sediments from off the Sahara and the deeper subtropical Atlantic, the sediments off river mouths, in particular off the Senegal river, are characterized by an additional input of fine grained terrigenous particles (< 6 µm). This is due to fluvial suspension load. The fluvial discharge leads to a relative excess of fine grained particles and is observed in a correlation diagram of the modal grain sizes of terrigenous silt with the proportion of fine fraction (< 6 µm). The aeolian sediment contribution by the Harmattan Winds strongly decreased during the Climatic Optimum at 6,000 y. B. P. The dust discharge of the trade winds is hardly detectable in the deep-sea sediments. This probably indicates a weakened atmospheric circulation. In contrast, the fluvial sediment supply reached a maximum, and can be traced to beyond Cape Blanc. Thus, the Saharan climate was more humid at 6,000 y B. P. A latitudinal shift of the Harmattan driven dust outbreaks cannot be observed. Also during the Glacial, 18,000 y. B. P., Harmattan dust transport crossed the African coast at latitudes of 15°-20° N. Its sediment load increased intensively, and markedly coarser grains spread further into the Atlantic Ocean. An expanded zone of pale-quart sediments indicates an enhanced dust supply by the trade winds blowing from the NE. No synglacial fluvial sediment contribution can be recognized between 12° and 30° N. This indicates a dry glacial climate and a strengthened stmospheric circulation over the Sahelian and Saharan region. The climatic transition pahes, at 12, 000 y. B. P., between the last Glacial and the Intergalcial, which is compareable to the Alerod in Europe, is characterized by an intermediate supply of terrigenous particles. The Harmattan dust transport wa weaker than during the Glacial. The northeasterly trade winds were still intensive. River supply reached a first postglacial maximum seaward of the Senegal river mouth. This indicates increasing humidity over the southern Sahara and a weaker atmospheric circulation as compared to the glacial. The accumulation rates of the terrigenous silt proportion (> 6 µm) decrcase exponentially with increasing distance from the Saharan coast. Those of the terrigenous fine fraction (< 6 µm) follow the same trend and show almost similar gradients. Accordingly, also the terrigenous fine fraction is believed to result predominantly from aeolian transport. In the Atlantic deep-sea sediments, the annual terrigenous sediment accumulation has fluctuated, from about 60 million tons p. a. during the Late Glacial (13,500-18,000 y. B. P, aeolian supply only) to about 33 million tons p. a. during the Holocene Climatic Optimum (6,000-9,000 y. B. P, mainly fluvial supply), when the river supply has reached a maximum, and to about 45 million tons p. a. during the last 4,000 years B. P. (fluvial supply only south of 18° N).

Densificação e microestrutura de um compósito Mo-Cu preparado a partir de um pó de heptamolibidato de amônia e cobre

The Cu-Mo system is a composite used in the electrical industry as material for electrical contact and resistance welding electrode as well as the heat sink and microwave absorber in microelectronic devices. The use of this material in such applications is due to the excellent properties of thermal and electrical conductivity and the possibility of adjustment of its coefficient of thermal expansion to meet those of materials used as substrates in the semiconductor micoreletrônic industry. Powder metallurgy through the processes of milling, pressing shaping and sintering is a viable technique for consolidation of such material. However, the mutual insolubility of both phases and the low wettability of liquid Cu on Mo impede its densification. However, the mutual insolubility of both phases and the low wettability of liquid Cu on Mo impede its densification. The mechanical alloying is a technique for preparation of powders used to produce nanocrystalline composite powder with amorphous phase or extended solid solution, which increases the sinterability immiscible systems such as the Mo-Cu. This paper investigates the influence of ammonium heptamolybdate (HMA) and the mechanical alloying in the preparation of a composite powder HMA-20% Cu and the effect of this preparation on densification and structure of MoCu composite produced. HMA and Cu powders in the proportion of 20% by weight of Cu were prepared by the techniques of mechanical mixing and mechanical alloying in a planetary mill. These were milled for 50 hours. To observe the evolution of the characteristics of the particles, powder samples were taken after 2, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 hours of milling. Cylindrical samples 5 to 8 mm in diameter and 3 to 4 mm thickness were obtained by pressing at 200 MPa to the mixed powders so as to ground. These samples were sintered at 1200 ° C for 60 minutes under an atmosphere of H2. To determine the effect of heating rate on the structure of the material during the decomposition and reduction of HMA, rates of 2, 5 and 10 ° C / min were used .. The post and the structures of the sintered samples were characterized by SEM and EDS. The density of the green and sintered bodies was measured using the geometric method (weight / volume). Vickers microhardness with a load of 1 N for 15 s were performed on sintered structures. The density of the sintered structures 10 ° C / min. reached 99% of theoretical density, how the density of sintered structures to 2 ° C / min. reached only 90% of the theoretical density

Sediment, water and biomass characteristics along gradients in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

In contrast to numerous studies on the biomass of marine microphytobenthos from temperate coastal ecosystems, little is known from polar regions. Therefore, microphytobenthos biomass was measured at several coastal sites in Arctic Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen) during the polar summer (June-August 2006). On sandy sediments, chla varied between 8 and 200 mg/m**2 and was related to water depth, current/wave exposure and geographical location. Biomass was rather independent of abiotic parameters such as sediment properties, salinity, temperature or light availability. At three stations, sediments at water depths of 3-4, 10, 15, 20 and 30 m were investigated to evaluate the effect of light availability on microalgae. Significant differences in distribution patterns of biomass in relation to deeper waters >10 m were found. The productive periods were not as distinct as phytoplankton blooms. Only at 3-4 m water depth at all three stations were two- to threefold increases of biomass measured during the investigation period. Hydrodynamic conditions seemed to be the driving force for differences in sediment colonisation by benthic microalgae. In spite of the extreme Arctic environmental conditions for algal growth, microphytobenthos biomass was comparable to marine temperate waters.

The SCUBA HAlf degree extragalactic survey - III. Identification of radio and mid-infrared counterparts to submillimetre galaxies

Determining an accurate position for a submillimetre (submm) galaxy (SMG) is the crucial step that enables us to move from the basic properties of an SMG sample - source counts and 2D clustering - to an assessment of their detailed, multiwavelength properties, their contribution to the history of cosmic star formation and their links with present-day galaxy populations. In this paper, we identify robust radio and/or infrared (IR) counterparts, and hence accurate positions, for over two-thirds of the SCUBA HAlf-Degree Extragalactic Survey (SHADES) Source Catalogue, presenting optical, 24-μm and radio images of each SMG. Observed trends in identification rate have given no strong rationale for pruning the sample. Uncertainties in submm position are found to be consistent with theoretical expectations, with no evidence for significant additional sources of error. Employing the submm/radio redshift indicator, via a parametrization appropriate for radio-identified SMGs with spectroscopic redshifts, yields a median redshift of 2.8 for the radio-identified subset of SHADES, somewhat higher than the median spectroscopic redshift. We present a diagnostic colour-colour plot, exploiting Spitzer photometry, in which we identify regions commensurate with SMGs at very high redshift. Finally, we find that significantly more SMGs have multiple robust counterparts than would be expected by chance, indicative of physical associations. These multiple systems are most common amongst the brightest SMGs and are typically separated by 2-6 arcsec, similar to 15-20/sin i kpc at z~ 2, consistent with early bursts seen in merger simulations.

Radiocirugía hipofisaria con gamma knife en perros con hiperadrenocorticismo hipofisario

El hiperadrenocorticismo (HAC) es una de las endocrinopatías más frecuentes en la especie canina, con una incidencia aproximada de 1-2/1000 perros/año. En el 80-85% de los casos el origen se encuentra en un exceso de secreción de hormona adrenocorticotropa (ACTH) provocado por un tumor hipofisario, denominándose HAC hipofisario. En el 15-20% restante el origen del HAC es un tumor (adenoma o carcinoma) adrenocortical que secreta una cantidad excesiva de glucocorticoides, denominándose HAC adrenal, y en un escaso porcentaje de casos, la etiología se sitúa ectópicamente a ambas glándulas. En la revisión bibliográfica de esta Tesis Doctoral se proporciona una visión general de la anatomía hipofisaria en la especie canina, de la regulación y de la síntesis de las hormonas hipofisarias y adrenales que intervienen en el desarrollo del HAC. Se describen los síntomas y signos clínicos de la enfermedad, los métodos de diagnóstico y las opciones terapéuticas farmacológica, quirúrgica y radioterápica...

Investigação experimental das propriedades termofísicas e da convecção forçada de nanofluido de grafeno

This work presents an experimental investigation of thermal hydraulic performance of the nanofluid composed by graphene nanoparticles dispersed in a mixture of water and ethylene glycol at a ratio of 70:30% by volume. The tests were carried out under forced convection inside a circular tube with uniform heat flux on the wall for the laminar-turbulent transition regime. The mass flow rate ranged from 40 to 70 g/s corresponding to Reynolds numbers between 3000 and 7500. The heat flux was maintained constant at values of 11, 16 and 21 kW/m², as well as the inlet temperature of 15, 20 and 25°C. Three samples were produced with the nanofluid volumetric concentration of 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.15%. Thermophysical properties were experimentaly measured for all samples that were critically compared and discussed with theoretical models most commonly used in the literature. Initially, experiments with distilled water confirmed the validity of the experimental equipment for the thermo-hydraulic tests. Therefore, nanofluid samples that showed the highest thermal conductivity, corresponding to the volumetric concentrations of 0.15% and 0.10%, were subjected to the tests. The thermal-hydraulic performance for both samples was unsatisfactory. The heat transfer coefficients for convection of nanofluids reduced 21% in average, for the sample with = 0.15% and 26% and for =0.10%. The pressure drop of the samples was higher than the base fluid. Finally, the pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient by convection of both samples were also compared to theoretical models. The models used for pressure drop showed an excellent agreement with experimental results, which is remarkable considering the transitional flow.

Nanoporous InP: anodic formation and growth mechanism in aqueous electrolytes

Porous layers can be formed electrochemically on (100) oriented n-InP substrates in aqueous KOH. A nanoporous layer is obtained underneath a dense near-surface layer and the pores appear to propagate from holes through the near-surface layer. In the early stages of the anodization transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly shows individual porous domains that appear to have a square-based pyramidal shape. Each domain appears to develop from an individual surface pit which forms a channel through this near-surface layer. We suggest that the pyramidal structure arises as a result of preferential pore propagation along the <100> directions. AFM measurements show that the density of surface pits increases with time. Each of these pits acts as a source for a pyramidal porous domain. When the domains grow, the current density increases correspondingly. Eventually the domains meet, forming a continuous porous layer, the interface between the porous and bulk InP becomes relatively flat and its total effective surface area decreases resulting in a decrease in the current density. Current-time curves at constant potential exhibit a peak and porous layers are observed to form beneath the electrode surface. The density of pits formed on the surface increases with time and approaches a plateau value. Porous layers are also observed in highly doped InP but are not observed in wafers with doping densities below ~5 × 1017 cm-3. Numerical models of this process have been developed invoking a mechanism of directional selectivity of pore growth preferentially along the <100> lattice directions. Manipulation of the parameters controlling these curves shows that the fall-off in current is controlled by the rate of diffusion of electrolyte through the pore structure with the final decline in current being caused by the termination of growth at the pore tips through the formation of passivating films or some other irreversible modification of the pore tips.

Grain size distribution of the lagoonal deposits within the South Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean

Seismic and multibeam data, as well as sediment samples were acquired in the South Malé Atoll in the Maldives archipelago in 2011 to unravel the stratigraphy and facies of the lagoonal deposits. Multichannel seismic lines show that the sedimentary succession locally reaches a maximum thickness of 15-20 m above an unconformity interpreted as the emersion surface which developed during the last glacial sea-level lowstand. Such depocenters are located in current-protected areas flanking the reef rim of the atoll or in infillings of karst dolinas. Much of the 50 m deep sea floor in the lagoon interior is current swept, and has no or very minor sediment cover. Erosive current moats line drowned patch reefs, whereas other areas are characterized by nondeposition. Karst sink holes, blue holes and karst valleys occur throughout the lagoon, from its rim to its center. Lagoonal sediments are mostly carbonate rubble and coarse-grained carbonate sands with frequent large benthic foraminifers, Halimeda flakes, red algal nodules, mollusks, bioclasts, and intraclasts, some of them glauconitic, as well as very minor ooids. Finer-grained deposits locally are deposited in current-protected areas behind elongated faros, i.e., small atolls which are part of the rim of South Malé Atoll. The South Malé Atoll is a current-flushed atoll, where water and sediment export with the open sea is facilitated by the multiple passes dissecting the atoll rim. With an elevated reef rim and tower-like reefs in the atoll interior it is an example of a leaky bucket atoll which shares characteristics of incipiently drowned carbonate banks or drowning sequences as known from the geological record.