Concentration of particulate matter and its dispersion factor in surface waters of the Canary upweling region, East Atlantic

Particulate matter concentration and water temperature at 5 m depth level are compared in the Canary upwelling region to the east of the Cape Blanc. It was found that accumulation of particulate matter was timed to hydrofrontal zones. Particle size distributions for particulate matter obtained using the Coulter counter agree with the hyperbolic law (of the Junge type) with double values for the size parameter, which changes for particle diameters of 5-6 microns. Average values for the size parameter in the region of the upwelling are significantly lower than in the open ocean. Specific surface of particulate matter associated with reactivity differs significantly on different sides of the upwelling front and increases beyond the upwelling.

Simultaneous bilateral hip replacement reveals superior outcome and fewer complications than two-stage procedures: a prospective study including 1819 patients and 5801 follow-ups from a total joint replacement registry

Background Total joint replacements represent a considerable part of day-to-day orthopaedic routine and a substantial proportion of patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty require a contralateral treatment after the first operation. This report compares complications and functional outcome of simultaneous versus early and delayed two-stage bilateral THA over a five-year follow-up period. Methods The study is a post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data in the framework of the European IDES hip registry. The database query resulted in 1819 patients with 5801 follow-ups treated with bilateral THA between 1965 and 2002. According to the timing of the two operations the sample was divided into three groups: I) 247 patients with simultaneous bilateral THA, II) 737 patients with two-stage bilateral THA within six months, III) 835 patients with two-stage bilateral THA between six months and five years. Results Whereas postoperative hip pain and flexion did not differ between the groups, the best walking capacity was observed in group I and the worst in group III. The rate of intraoperative complications in the first group was comparable to that of the second. The frequency of postoperative local and systemic complication in group I was the lowest of the three groups. The highest rate of complications was observed in group III. Conclusions From the point of view of possible intra- and postoperative complications, one-stage bilateral THA is equally safe or safer than two-stage interventions. Additionally, from an outcome perspective the one-stage procedure can be considered to be advantageous.

Accurate stratospheric particle-size distributions from a flat-plate collection surface

The first representative chemical, structural, and morphological analysis of the solid particles from a single collection surface has been performed. This collection surface sampled the stratosphere between 17 and 19km in altitude in the summer of 1981, and therefore before the 1982 eruptions of El Chichón. A particle collection surface was washed free of all particles with rinses of Freon and hexane, and the resulting wash was directed through a series of vertically stacked Nucleopore filters. The size cutoff for the solid particle collection process in the stratosphere is found to be considerably less than 1 μm. The total stratospheric number density of solid particles larger than 1μm in diameter at the collection time is calculated to be about 2.7×10−1 particles per cubic meter, of which approximately 95% are smaller than 5μm in diameter. Previous classification schemes are expanded to explicitly recognize low atomic number material. With the single exception of the calcium-aluminum-silicate (CAS) spheres all solid particle types show a logarithmic increase in number concentration with decreasing diameter. The aluminum-rich particles are unique in showing bimodal size distributions. In addition, spheres constitute only a minor fraction of the aluminum-rich material. About 2/3 of the particles examined were found to be shards of rhyolitic glass. This abundant volcanic material could not be correlated with any eruption plume known to have vented directly to the stratosphere. The micrometeorite number density calculated from this data set is 5×10−2 micrometeorites per cubic meter of air, an order of magnitude greater than the best previous estimate. At the collection altitude, the maximum collision frequency of solid particles >5μm in average diameter is calculated to be 6.91×10−16 collisions per second, which indicates negligible contamination of extraterrestrial particles in the stratosphere by solid anthropogenic particles.

Tibetan Market Participation in China

Since the Chinese government began implementing economic reforms in the late 1970s, China has experienced profound economic change and growth. Like other parts of China, Tibetan areas of China have also experienced wide-ranging economic change with growth even higher than the China-wide average in certain years. Though China s strategic policy of developing the West provided many opportunities for economic and business activities, Tibetans have proven poorly equipped to respond to and take advantage of these opportunities. This study is about people, about market participation and specifically about why Tibetans do not effectively participate in the market in the context of China s economic development process. Many political, social, cultural and environmental factors explain the difficulties met by Tibetan communities. However, this study focuses on three factors: the social and culture context, government policy and education. The Buddhistic nature of Tibetan communities, particularly the political and economic system in traditional Tibetan society, explains this, especially after implementation of new national economic policies. An inclusive economic development policy that promotes local people s participation in the market demands serious consideration of local conditions. Unfortunately, such considerations often ignore local Tibetan realities. The economic development policy in Tibetan areas in China is nearly always an attempt to replicate the inland model and open up markets, even though economic and sociopolitical conditions in Tibet are markedly unlike much of China. A consequence of these policies is increasing numbers of non-Tibetan migrants flowing into Tibetan areas with the ensuing marginalization of Tibetans in the marketplace. Poor quality education is another factor contributing to Tibetan inability to effectively participate in the market. Vocational and business education targeting Tibetans is of very low quality and reflective of government failing to consider local circumstances when implementing education policy. The relatively few Tibetans who do receive education are nearly always unable to compete with non-Tibetan migrants in commercial activity. Encouraging and promoting Tibetan participation in business development and access to quality education are crucial for a sustainable and prosperous society in the long term. Particularly, a localized development policy that considers local environmental conditions and production as well as local culture is crucial. Tibet s economic development should be based on local environmental and production conditions, while utilizing Tibetan culture for the benefit of creating a sustainable economy. Such a localized approach best promotes Tibetan market participation. Keywords: Tibet cultural policy education market participation

砌体结构开裂过程细观损伤数值模型及其分析方法

考虑材料的非均匀性特点,基于损伤力学和弹性脆性理论,提出了块体结构开裂过程数值分析方法,采用复合材料破裂过程数值分析(MFPA2D)模型,从细观力学层次上模拟了砌体结构试件局部荷载下从损伤到开裂破坏的全过程,数值模拟结果与试验结果较为吻合。验证了该理论分析方法的正确性和模型的合理性,对于理解砌体结构开裂的非线性过程、结构可靠性分析等具有重要意义。同时为砌体结构的破坏与失稳预测预报基础理论的研究提供新的分析方法。

Análisis del nivel de sedentarismo mediante acelerometría y cuestionario IPAQ en personas con hipertensión primaria y sobrepeso u obesidad

Antecedentes: La hipertensión arterial y el sobrepeso u obesidad son considerados factores de riesgo cardiovascular, asociados de forma clara con el sedentarismo en la población adulta. La valoración del sedentarismo se puede realizar a través de métodos objetivos y subjetivos. Objetivos: Analizar el nivel de sedentarismo, mediante el cuestionario internacional de actividad física (AF) (IPAQ, método subjetivo) y acelerometría (método objetivo) en personas con HTA primaria y sobrepeso u obesidad. Determinar si existen diferencias entre ambos métodos de valoración y entre sexos. Métodos: Se llevaron a cabo las dos pruebas de valoración a 48 participantes del estudio EXERDIET-HTA (edad 51,9 ± 8,1 años). 1) Cuestionario IPAQ en versión corta que mide la AF realizada durante los últimos siete días. Los datos se clasificaron en tiempo sedentario, ligero, moderado o intenso según las recomendaciones generales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. 2) Acelerometría triaxial durante siete días portado en la muñeca no dominante. El tiempo dedicado a conductas sedentarias, así como las diferentes intensidades de AF (ligera, moderada, vigorosa y muy vigorosa), Kcal, METs y tiempo de sueño se calcularon para los días laborables y de fin de semana. Resultados: IPAQ presentó una media de 6 h/día en comportamientos sedentarios en ambos sexos. No se presentaron diferencias entre sexos. El 85,4% resulta sedentario. Acelerometría: Los participantes presentan 1,7±0,2 MET de media al día, considerado un valor metabólico de gasto calórico ligero. El tiempo de sueño diario fue de 6,6h. El gasto calórico diario se corresponde con comportamientos sedentarios entre semana para hombres y mujeres (2038,5±801,6 kcal) y sólo los hombres incrementan el gasto el fin de semana (P=0,036). Se observó que las mujeres realizan más minutos de AF a intensidad moderada que los hombres durante toda la semana (P=0,029). Se observaron diferencias de actividad entre los días entre semana y el fin de semana, con más tiempo de sedentarismo entre semana (P=0,040) y más AF ligera el fin de semana (P=0,003), resultando esta diferencia debida al cambio de actividad en los hombres pero no en las mujeres. Todos los participantes superan los 150 minutos de AF moderada que se recomienda en las guías mundiales según la acelerometría. Conclusiones: Las personas hipertensas y con sobrepeso u obesidad presentan en general conductas sedentarias. Los patrones de sueño podrían estar relacionados con la enfermedad. Sería necesario reducir las conductas sedentarias como prevención de la obesidad y del desarrollo prematuro de enfermedades cardiovasculares, fomentando la práctica regular de AF y mejorando los hábitos de alimentación.

Nd：YAG透明陶瓷的烧成及其显微结构

由溶胶一凝胶／燃烧合成结合法合成了Nd：YAG(掺钕钇铝石榴石，neodymium—doped yttrium aluminium garnet)粉体，用真空烧结法制备了Nd：YAG透明陶瓷。研究了显微结构随烧结温度和保温时间的变化，并对透明陶瓷的晶界结构和成分分布进行了表征。随着烧结温度的提高和保温时间的延长，Nd：YAG陶瓷的密度增大，晶形发育完整，透过率提高。晶粒内部和晶界的化学组成基本相同。所制备的Nd：YAG透明陶瓷在激光工作波长1064nm的透过率达到75％。

Caracterização de juntas soldadas por TIG autógeno manual com arco pulsado e arco não pulsado do aço inoxidável hiperduplex SAF 2707 HD.

O aço inoxidável hiperduplex, SAF 2707 HD, foi desenvolvido com o intuito de se obter novas ligas com maior resistência à corrosão do que a disponível nos aços inoxidáveis duplex / superduplex. Além da melhorada resistência à corrosão, este tb oferece propriedades mecânicas superiores. Os aços hiperduplex são aços de última geração que possuem elevados teores de elementos de liga, principalmente cromo, molibdênio e nitrogênio. Este tipo de aço caracteriza-se por apresentar estrutura bifásica, constituída de proporções praticamente iguais de ferrita e austenita devido à distribuição controlada dos elementos alfagênicos e gamagênicos. O interesse por esses aços cresce gradativamente com a necessidade de novos materiais para diversas aplicações na indústria petrolífera. Porém, quando expostos e mantidos a temperaturas elevadas, na faixa entre 600C e 1000C, algumas fases intermetálicas podem se formar, em que a fase sigma () é a mais proeminente. Possui uma estrutura cristalina tetragonal complexa rica em Cr e Mo, tendo efeito deletério no material afetando tanto a resistência à corrosão, quanto as propriedades mecânicas. Para este fim, faz-se necessário estudos da junta soldada para delinear as limitações desses aços e aperfeiçoar a aplicação. Essa pesquisa teve como objetivo caracterizar a junta soldada por TIG autógeno manual com arco pulsado e não pulsado do aço inoxidável hiperduplex SAF 2707 HD. As técnicas empregadas foram a metalografia por ataque eletrolítico (reagente NaOH) e color etching (reagente Behara), medidas de microdureza e quantificação microestrutural por Processamento Digital de Imagem. Os aspectos microestruturais foram observados por microscopia óptica (MO) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), estes passaram por etapas de processamento digital de imagens (PDI) para quantificar a fração volumétrica da fase austenita. Realizou-se análise química semi-quatitativa por EDS. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente através do teste de hipóteses com distribuição t de Student. Pela técnica color etching observou-se que a fase austenita foi gerada com distribuição mais homogênea para o arco pulsado, que o não pulsado. O ataque eletrolítico não revelou uma terceira fase (fase ) na junta soldada, a análise química por EDS não identificou uma variação significativa nos elementos presentes ao longo da zona de transição do metal de base para a zona de fusão. Através do PDI foram obtidos os valores médios da fração volumétrica de austenita de 36,38% (desvio padrão 6,40%) e 32,41% (desvio padrão 6,67%) para os dois métodos, pulsado e não pulsado, respectivamente. Foram obtidos os valores de microdureza para o metal de base 355,10 HV (desvio padrão 28,60) e para a zona de fusão 343,60 HV (desvio padrão 20,51) da amostra soldada pelo modo pulsado, para o modo não pulsado foram apresentaram os valores médios de 370,30 HV (desvio padrão 34,51) para o metal de base e de 345,20 HV (desvio padrão 41,33) para a zona de fusão. A análise estatística indicou que não houve variação significativa da fração volumétrica da fase austenita no cordão de solda para as duas condições testadas e não houve variação da microdureza entre a zona de fusão e o metal de solda das amostras submetidas aos dois processos.