Humidity passive sensors based on UHF RFID using cork dielectric slabs

In this paper we show the design of passive UHF RFID tag antenna on cork substrate. Due to the cork sensitivity to humidity changes, we can use the developed sensor to sense changes in the relative humidity of the environment, without the need for batteries. The antenna is built using inkjet printing technology, which allows a good accuracy of the design manufacturing. The sensor proved usable for humidity changes detection with a variation of threshold power from 11 to 15 dB between 60 and near 100% humidity levels. Presenting, therefore, reading ranges between 3 to 5 meters. © 2015 EurAAP.

Design of New Materials for Passive Vibration Control

The aim of this contribution is to extend the techniques of composite materials design to non-linear material behaviour and apply it for design of new materials for passive vibration control. As a first step a computational tool allowing determination of macroscopic optimized one-dimensional isolator behaviour was developed. Voigt, Maxwell, standard and more complex material models can be implemented. Objective function considers minimization of the initial reaction and/or displacement peak as well as minimization of the steady-state amplitude of reaction and/or displacement. The complex stiffness approach is used to formulate the governing equations in an efficient way. Material stiffness parameters are assumed as non-linear functions of the displacement. The numerical solution is performed in the complex space. The steady-state solution in the complex space is obtained by an iterative process based on the shooting method which imposes the conditions of periodicity with respect to the known value of the period. Extension of the shooting method to the complex space is presented and verified. Non-linear behaviour of material parameters is then optimized by generic probabilistic meta-algorithm, simulated annealing. Dependence of the global optimum on several combinations of leading parameters of the simulated annealing procedure, like neighbourhood definition and annealing schedule, is also studied and analyzed. Procedure is programmed in MATLAB environment.

Passive Fault-Tolerance Management in Component-based Embedded Systems

It is imperative to accept that failures can and will occur, even in meticulously designed distributed systems, and design proper measures to counter those failures. Passive replication minimises resource consumption by only activating redundant replicas in case of failures, as typically providing and applying state updates is less resource demanding than requesting execution. However, most existing solutions for passive fault tolerance are usually designed and configured at design time, explicitly and statically identifying the most critical components and their number of replicas, lacking the needed flexibility to handle the runtime dynamics of distributed component-based embedded systems. This paper proposes a cost-effective adaptive fault tolerance solution with a significant lower overhead compared to a strict active redundancy-based approach, achieving a high error coverage with the minimum amount of redundancy. The activation of passive replicas is coordinated through a feedback-based coordination model that reduces the complexity of the needed interactions among components until a new collective global service solution is determined, improving the overall maintainability and robustness of the system.

Fisiología de la Transferencia Pasiva de Inmunidad en Equinos. Physiology of the Transfer of Passive Immunity in Equine.

El reconocimiento temprano de anormalidades en la transferencia pasiva de inmunidad en equinos es importante para un manejo satisfactorio de los potrillos. La placenta de la yegua, epiteliocorial, no permite el pasaje de inmunoglobulinas.(Igs). La ingesta de calostro es vital ya que provee las Igs necesarias para alcanzar una concentración sérica de IgG mayor a 800 mg por ciento. Se considerara falla parcial con niveles de IgG entre 400 y 800 mgpor ciento; y total con niveles menores a 400 mg por ciento. La absorción de las Igs es máxima hasta 8 hs después del nacimiento y disminuye hasta hacerse nula a las 24 hs posparto. Los objetivos son: a) estudiar la cinética de la transferencia pasiva de Igs determinando la concentración de IgG sérica en potrillos en el primer trimestre de vida. b) relacionar la concentración de IgG del suero y calostro de la yegua con la concentración sérica de IgG en el potrillo. c) Relacionar en calostro la concentración de inmunoglobulina G con la densidad específica y la determinación semicuantitativa de inmunoglobulina G. d) Relacionar en el suero del potrillo a las 18 - 24 hs posparto la concentración de inmunoglobulina G con la densidad específica y la determinación semicuantitativa de inmunoglobulina G. Material y método: Diseño de estudio: de cohorte, observacional, descriptivo. Animales: 70 yeguas y 70 potrillos de raza Puro Polo. Calostros: 70 muestras Toma de muestras: Yeguas: se tomará una muestra de sangre en el periparto y una muestra de calostro posparto, antes del calostrado del potrillo. Potrillos: se tomarán muestras de sangre seriadas: al nacimiento (precalostrado), 6 hs posparto, 12 hs, 18 hs y 24 hs posparto y a los 21, 60 y 90 días posparto. Determinación de IgG (Suero y calostro): a) Técnica de inmunodifusión radial simple, los resultados se expresará en mg por ciento, en muestras seriadas en intervalos de tiempo preestablecidos. b)Refractometría (con refractómetro Modelo RHC-200/ATC- Arcano). c) Test de gluteralehído, Inmuno -G test. Análisis estadístico: Comparaciones de medias con prueba t apareada o de diferencia de medias, Se considera p significativa < 0,05. Se realizará un análisis de componentes principales. Se correlacionará la concentración de Ig G de suero y calostro de la yegua con la concentración en suero de potrillo. Con los resultados de este trabajo se determinarán los valores de inmunoglobulina en las yeguas y potrillos y su comportamiento en el tiempo, y se validará la sensibilidad y especificidad de las técnicas diagnósticas utilizadas. Los resultados permitirán obtener conocimientos para un manejo racional, desde la perspectiva inmunológica, de los potrillos, al establecer mediante técnicas cuantitativas y semicuantitativas los niveles de Igs séricos alcanzados, favoreciendo un diagnóstico precoz de inmunodeficiencia por fracaso de la transferencia de anticuerpos que pondría en riesgo la vida del potrillo.

The financial sustainability of passive house construction in Ireland.

In Ireland the average energy cost for a household in 2006 was estimated to be €1,767, an increase of 4% on 2005 figures. With the state o f the current economic climate, home owners are beginning to realise the potential of energy efficient construction methods. The Passive House Standard offers a cost efficient and sustainable construction solution compared to the Traditional Irish construction methods. This report focuses on the Cost comparison between Passive House construction and traditional construction methods. The report also focuses on barriers that are slowing market penetration of the Passive House standard in the Irish Market. It also identifies potential energy savings that passive house occupants would benefit from. The report also highlights professional opinions on the future development o f the Passive House Standard in Ireland. The conclusions of this report are that the Passive House Standard is a more financially suitable construction solution compared to that o f a traditional dwelling complying with the Irish Building Regulations. The report also concludes that the Passive House Standard won’t be introduced as an Irish Building Regulation in the future but that it will have a big impact on future building regulations. The hypothesis o f this report is supported by data obtained from a literature review, qualitative data analysis and a case study. The report recommends that in order for the Passive House Standard to penetrate further into the Irish construction market, various barriers must be rectified. Local manufactures must start producing suitable components that suit the Passive House specification. The Building Energy Rating system must be altered in order for the Passive House to achieve its potential BER rating.

Time- and frequency-domain modeling of passive interconncection structured in field and circuit analysis

PEEC, computational electromagnetics

Aktive und passive Schallreduktion am Dieselmotor

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Fakultät für Maschinenbau, Dissertation, 2016

Role of a mouse monoclonal IgE antibody in passive transfer of immunity to Schistosoma japonicum infection

We have been able to produce a mouse monoclonal IgE antibody specific to an adult worm antigen extracted from Schistosoma japonicum (Sj). The antibody was able to elicit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in the rat skin against Sj with the highest titer of 1:256,000 but did not cross-react with S. mansoni antigen. The antibody recognized a 97-kDa molecule expressed on the surface of mechanically transformed schistosoma of S. japonicum. Passive transfer of the antibody into mice in the early stage of challenge infection resulted in a partial but significant reduction of recovery of adult worms. Induction of eosinophilia by an oral administration of embryonated eggs of Toxocara canis prior to challenge infection enhanced the reduction.

Permian-polysulphide-siderite-barite-haematite deposit Rude in Samoborska Gora Mts., Zagorje-Mid-Transdanubian zone of the Inner Dinarides

Samoborska Gora Mts. is situated within the westernmost part of the Zagorje-Mid-Transdanubian zone of the Internal Dinarides. The Samoborska Gora Mts. predominantly consists of Permian unmetamorphosed siliciclastic sediments and evaporites, overlain by Lower Triassic sediments. Rude mineralisation is hosted by Permian siliciclastic sediments, below gypsum and anhydrite strata. The central part of the deposit consists of a 1.5 km long stratabound mineralisation, grading laterally into ferruginous sandstone and protruding vertically into a gypsum-anhydrite layer. Siderite-polysulphide-barite-quartz veins are located below the stratabound mineralisation. The stratiform part of the deposit is situated above the stratabound and consists of haematite layer with barite concretions and veinlets. Late stage galena-barite veins overprint earlier types of mineralisation. The Rude ore deposit was generated by predominantly NaCl +/- CaCl(2)-H(2)O solutions. Detrital quartz from stratiform mineralisation contains fluid inclusions with salinities between 7 and 11 wt. % NaCl equ., homogenizing between 150 degrees C to 230 degrees C. Stratabound/siderite-polysulphide-barite-quartz vein type mineralisation was derived from solutions with salinities between 5 and 19 wt. % NaCl equ., homogenizing between 60 degrees C and 160 degrees C, while late stage galenabarite veins were precipitated from solutions with salinities between 11 and 16 wt. % NaCl equ., homogenizing between 100 degrees C to 140 degrees C. Fluid inclusion bulk leachate chemistry recorded Na(+)> Mg(2+)>K(+)>Ca(2+)>Li(+) and Cl-> SO(4)(2-) ions. Sulphur isotope composition of barites and overlying gypsum stems from Permian seawater sulphate, supported by increased Br(-) content, which follows successively the seawater evaporation line. The sulphur isotopic composition of sulphides varies between -0.2 and + 12.5 parts per thousand , as a result of thermal reduction of Permian marine sulphate. Ore-forming fluids were produced by hydrothermal convective cells (reflux brine model), and were derived primarily from Permian seawater, modified by evaporation and interaction with Permian sedimentary rocks. Rude deposits in Samoborska Gora Mts. may be declared as a prototype of the Permian siderite-polysulphide-barite deposits (products of rifting along the passive Gondwana margin), in the Inner Dinarides, and their equivalents extending northeastward into the Zagorje-Mid-Transdanubian Zone and the Gemerides, and southeastward to the Hellenide-Albanides.

Subduction and obduction processes in the Swiss Alps

The significance of the Brianconnais domain in the Alpine orogen is reviewed in the light of data concerning its collision with the active Adriatic margin and the passive Helvetic margin. The Brianconnais which formerly belonged to the Iberian plate, was located on the northern margin of the Alpine Tethys (Liguro-Piemont ocean) since its opening in the early-Middle Jurassic. Together with the Iberian plate the Brianconnais terrane was separated from the European plate in the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, following the northern Atlantic, Bay of Biscay, Valais ocean opening. This was accompanied by the onset of subduction along the northern margin of Adria and the closure of the Alpine Tethys. Stratigraphic and metamorphic data regarding this subduction and the geohistory of the Brianconnais allows the scenario of subduction-obduction processes during the Late Cretaceous-early Tertiary in the eastern and western Alps to be specified. HP-LT metamorphism record a long-lasting history of oceanic subduction-accretion, followed in the Middle Eocene by the incorporation of the Brianconnais as an exotic terrane into the accretionary prism. Middle to Late Eocene cooling ages of the Brianconnais basement and the presence of pelagic, anorogenic sedimentation lasting until the Middle Eocene on the Brianconnais preclude any sort of collision before that time between this domain and the active Adria margin or the Helvetic margin. This is confirmed by plate reconstructions constrained by magnetic anomalies in the Atlantic domain. Only a small percentage of the former Brianconnais domain was obducted, most of the crust and lithospheric roots were subducted. This applies also to domains formerly belonging to the southern Alpine Tethys margin (Austroalpine-inner Carpathian domain). It is proposed that there was a single Palaeogene subduction zone responsible for the Alpine orogen formation (from northern Spain to the East Carpathians), with the exception of a short-lived Late Cretaceous partial closure of the Valais ocean. Subduction in the western Tethyan domain originated during the closure of the Meliata ocean during the Jurassic incorporating the Austroalpine-Carpathian domain as terranes during the Cretaceous. The subduction zone propagated into the northern margin of Adria and then to the northern margin of the Iberian plate, where it gave birth to the Pyrenean-Provencal orogenic belt. This implies the absence of a separated Cretaceous subduction zone within the Austro-Carpathian Penninic ocean. Collision of Iberia with Europe forced the subduction to jump to the SE margin of Iberia in the Eocene, creating the Apenninic orogenic wedge and inverting the vergence of subduction from south- to north-directed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The Use of Passive Samplers to Reveal Industrial and Agricultural Pollution Trends in Swiss Rivers

This study shows the efficiency of passive sampling to reveal industrial and agricultural pollution trends. Two practical applications for nonpolar and polar contaminants are presented. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) samplers were deployed for one year in the Venoge River (VD) to monitor indicator PCBs (iPCBs, IUPAC nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180). The results showed that the impact of PCB emissions into the river is higher in summer than in other seasons due to the low flow rate of the river during this period. P,olar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were deployed for 4 months in the Sion-Riddes canal (VS) to investigate herbicides (terbuthylazine, diuron and linuron). Desisopropylatrazine-d5 (DIA-d5) was tested as a performance reference compound (PRC) to estimate aqueous concentration. The results showed an increase of water contamination due to the studied agricultural area. The maximal contamination was observed in April and corresponds to the period of herbicide application on the crops.

Triassic stratigraphic evolution of the Arabian-Greater India embayment of the southern Tethys margin

An exceptional, tectonically remarkably unaffected, nearly 200 m-thick continuous section of hemipelagic and turbiditic sediments, covering most of the Triassic is described from the Batain Complex of north-eastern Oman. According to conodont and radiolarian data the sequence spans the late Scythian to the early Norian, a time period of nearly 30 M. Coupled with a high resolution stratigraphy, the lithostratigraphy, sedimentology, as well as sequence and isotope stratigraphy of the section are documented. For the Triassic of the Batain Plain we propose the new name Sal Formation, which replaces the formerly used Matbat Formation, and subdivide it into three new members. The Sal Formation was deposited on the proximal continental margin of northeastern Arabia and records various depositional environments. The lower member is interpreted as the distal part of a homoclinal ramp which evolves to a distally steepened ramp during time of deposition of the middle member. The upper member displays a toe of slope position which is indicated by an increase of proximal turbidites. These sediments form part of a segment of the Neo-Tethyan embayment between Arabia and India. The stratigraphic analysis indicates highly varying sedimentation rates from a minimum of 2 m/M gamma around the Anisian/Ladinian boundary up to 15 m/M gamma during the Lower and Upper Triassic. Sequence-stratigraphically, the Sal section is subdivided into six third order cycles which are biochronologically well integrated into the global Triassic cycle chart. The mixed siliciclastic-calcareous upper member of the Sal Formation typically shows highstand related carbonate shedding. It is, therefore, an important test case for sequence-stratigraphic controlled carbonate export to mixed basin fills. The well developed sequence stratigraphic cycles are mirrored in the isotope patterns. Additionally, the carbon and oxygen isotope data from the Sal Formation record the same chemostratigraphic marker at the Spathian/Anisian boundary known from other Tethyan sections.

Molecular and isotopic characterization of biomarkers in the Frick Swiss Jura sediments: A palaeoenvironmental reconstruction on the northern Tethys margin

Molecular and stable carbon isotope compositions of source-specific hydrocarbons have been used to reconstruct palaeoenvironmental conditions during deposition of the Middle Hettangian to Upper Sinemurian sediments on the northern epicontinental Tethys margin, Frick Swiss Jura. Increasing algal, cyanobacterial and phytoplanktonic (i.e., dinoflagellate) contributions associated with the C-13-enrichment of cyanobacteria derivatives (i.e., hopanes and monomethylalkanes) suggest enhanced primary productivity upsection. This is related to the C-13-enrichment of dissolved CO2 in the upper layers and the progressive increase of depth and oxygenation of the water column. In the Middle Hettangian shallow-water environments (lagoon), the occurrence of green sulfur bacteria (Chlorobiaceae) derivatives indicates that the lower part of the water column was strictly anoxic and rich in H2S. Since these bacteria require very low light intensity to grow, these euxinic conditions may be extended up to the photic zone, allowing for anaerobic photosynthesis. Light penetration depth is most likely reduced by high productivity and/or turbidity in the photic zone. In these sediments, C-13-depleted hopanoids (-39.5 parts per thousand) are most likely associated with phototrophic purple sulfur bacteria utilizing isotopically light organic carbon at the base of the aerobic zone. These purple sulfur bacteria may have consumed the H2S used by Chlorobiaceae in the deeper layers and thus, sustained the algae and cyanobacteria productivity in the upper layers. The C-13-depleted carbonate (-13.3 parts per thousand) may be partially related to the anaerobic oxidation of the organic matter during bacterial sulfate-reduction. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spatio-temporal variations in reproductive patterns and population structure of Pasiphaea multidentata (Decapoda: Caridea) in the Blanes canyon and adjacent margin, North-western Mediterranean Sea

The bathyal faunal communities of the NW Mediterranean slopes have been studied consistently in the last two decades, with a special focus on population structure, trophic dynamics and benthopelagic coupling of commercial deep-sea decapod crustaceans and fishes (reviewed in Sardà et al. 2004) and associated species (Cartes and Sardà, 1993; Company and Sardà, 1997, 2000; Cartes et al., 2001; Company et al., 2001, 2003, 2004). One of the major topographic features in the North-western Mediterranean slope is the presence of submarine canyons. Canyons play a major role in funnelling energy and organic matter from the shelf to bathyal and abyssal depths (Puig et al., 2000), but the implications of this enhanced organic supply in the deep-sea benthic communities is still mostly unknown. Trophic supply can follow two major pathways – vertical deposition in the water column (Billett et al., 1983; Baldwin et al., 1998; Lampitt et al., 2001) or down-slope advection on the margins (Puig et al., 2001; Bethoux et al., 2002; Canals et al., 2006) – and can be a limiting factor in the deep-sea, being especially important in the oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea (Sardà et al., 2004). Differences in the quantity, quality and timing of organic matter input to the deep seafloor have been used to explain patterns of biomass and abundance in benthic communities (Levin et al., 1994; Gooday & Turley, 1990; Billett et al., 2001; Galéron et al., 2001; Puig et al., 2001; Gage, 2003) as well as other biological process and in particular the existence of seasonal reproduction (Tyler et al., 1994; Company et al., 2004 (MEPS). Reproduction is a highly energetic process tightly linked to food availability and quality.