Aufbau hochfunktionaler Intralogistik-Knoten mittels kleinskaliger Module als Cognitive Conveyor

Kleinskalige, multifunktionale Module haben ein hohes Potential bei der wirtschaftlichen und flexiblen Gestaltung intralogistischer Systeme mit hoher Funktionalität. Durch dezentrale Steuerung und eigener Intelligenz der Module ist das System frei skalierbar und der Installationsaufwand wird minimiert. Mittels eines neuartigen Konzeptes der Datenkommunikation für Stetigförderer erfolgt der Informationsaustausch drahtlos mit Hilfe optoelektrischer Elemente. Die Kleinskaligkeit der Transportmodule gegenüber der Transporteinheit im Zusammenhang mit dem Steuerungskonzept erlaubt eine selektive Beschaltung der Module nach Bedarf und damit eine optimierte Energieausnutzung im Betrieb. Prototypen auf Basis von Schwenkrollen mit integrierter Antriebstechnik und Steuerung lassen das Potential des Prinzips erkennen. Das neu entwickelte Konzept der Schrägscheibe hilft bei der anspruchsvollen Integration der Antriebstechnik in das Modul durch das Prinzip der koaxialen Aktoren. Durch omnidirektionalen Funktionsumfang der Module entsteht im Zusammenschluss zu einer Modulmatrix ein hochflexibel einsetzbares Intralogistik-Modul. Die Vernetzung dieser hochfunktionalen Knoten durch einfache Fördertechnik bietet die Möglichkeit einfacher Planung flexibler Logistiksysteme.

Simulation der peristaltischen Förderung von Stückgütern als Schüttgut

Im Beitrag wird ein neuartiges Förderprinzip zur federnden Aufnahme und zum Transport von massenhaft anfallenden Paketstrukturen vorgestellt. Das Förderprinzip beruht auf einem flächigen Tragmittel in Form eines veränderbaren, elastischen Verbundes von kleinskaligen Fördermodulen. Das konzipierte Transportprinzip mit peristaltischen Eigenschaften soll entstehende Staus der Pakete schnell auflösen und eine dedizierte Steuerung von Teilmengen zulassen, um den erforderlichen Durchsatz innerhalb eines Materialflusssystems zu erreichen. Diese Lösung ermöglicht eine sinnvolle Verknüpfung von Wirkprinzipien der Schüttgut- und Stückgutförderung zur Aufnahme und Fortbewegung von Pakete als Schüttgut. Die Grundfunktionalität des Förderkonzepts wird durch die numerische Simulation auf Basis der Diskrete Elemente Methode sowie der Mehrkörpersimulation überprüft.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome: A narrative literature review

Background Tarsal tunnel syndrome is classified as a focal compressive neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve or one of its associated branches individually or collectively. The tunnel courses deep to fascia, the flexor retinaculum and within the abductor hallucis muscle of the foot/ankle. The condition is rare and regularly under-diagnosed leading to a range of symptoms affecting the plantar margins of the foot. There are many intervention strategies for treating tarsal tunnel syndrome with limited robust evidence to guide the clinical management of this condition. The role of conservative versus surgical interventions at various stages of the disease process remains unclear, and there is a need for a structured, step-wise approach in treating patients with this syndrome based on derived empirical evidence. This narrative review attempts to scrutinize the literature to date by clarifying initial presentation, investigations and definitive treatment for the purpose of assisting future informed clinical decision and prospective research endeavours. Process The literature searches that have been incorporated in compiling a rigorous review of this condition have included: the Cochrane Neuromuscular Group's Specialized Register (Cochrane Library 2013), the databases of EMBASE, AMED, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Physiotherapy evidence database (PEDRO), Biomed Central, Science Direct and Trip Database (1972 to the present). Reference listings of located articles were also searched and scrutinized. Authors and experts within the field of lower-limb orthopaedics were contacted to discuss applicable data. Subject-specific criteria searches utilizing the following key terms were performed across all databases: tarsal tunnel syndrome, tibial neuralgia, compression neuropathy syndromes, tibial nerve impingement, tarsal tunnel neuropathy, entrapment tibial nerve, posterior tibial neuropathy. These search strategies were modified with differing databases, adopting specific sensitivity-searching tools and functions unique to each. This search strategy identified 88 journal articles of relevance for this narrative literature review. Findings This literature review has appraised the clinical significance of tarsal tunnel syndrome, whilst assessing varied management interventions (non-surgical and surgical) for the treatment of this condition in both adults and children. According to our review, there is limited high-level robust evidence to guide and refine the clinical management of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Requirements for small-scaled randomized controlled trials in groups with homogenous aetiology are needed to analyse the effectiveness of specific treatment modalities. Conclusions It is necessary that further research endeavours be pursued for the clinical understanding, assessment and treatment of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Accordingly, a structured approach to managing patients who have been correctly diagnosed with this condition should be formulated on the basis of empirical evidence where possible.

Systematics of the North American menhadens: molecular evolutionary reconstructions in the genus Brevoortia (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae)

Evolutionary associations among the four North American species of menhadens (Brevoortia spp.) have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, classifications separating the four species into small-scaled and large-scaled groups were evaluated by using DNA data, and genetic associations within these groups were explored. Specifically, data from the nuclear genome (microsatellites) and the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA sequences) were used to elicit patterns of recent and historical evolutionary associations. Nuclear DNA data indicated limited contemporary gene flow among the species, and also indicated higher relatedness within the small-scaled and large-scaled menhadens than between these groups. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of the large-scaled menhadens indicated the presence of two ancestral lineages, one of which contained members of both species. This result may indicate genetic diver-gence (reproductive isolation) followed by secondary contact (hybridization) between these species. In contrast, a single ancestral lineage indicated incomplete genetic divergence between the small-scaled menhaden. These results are discussed in the context of the biology and demographics of each species.

细鳞鲃类的系统发育与裂腹鱼类起源关系的探讨

裂腹鱼类起源鳃亚科鱼类的观点得到了多数学者的支持。但是，鱼巴亚科鱼类是一个非常庞杂的类群，裂腹鱼类究竟起源于鳃亚科的哪一个小类群或裂腹鱼类与哪个小类群更为接近？这样的小类群又怎样随着急剧隆起的青藏高原峥演化发展成为现今的裂腹鱼类？不同的学者从不同的研究领域出发，得出了较为不一致甚至是相互对立的结论。裂腹鱼类（我国有11属，76种和亚种）均为小型鳞片的鱼类，与鳃亚科中一些具有小型鳞片的属种较为相似，即，妒鲤属（凡rCO～）的3个亚种、似鳃属（Lztciocyprinus）的2个种，金线纪属（Sinocyclocheilus）的26种或亚种，本文将这些具细小鳞片的鳃亚科鱼类统称为细鳞鳃鱼类（small-scaledbarbids）。为了探讨细鳞鱼巴类和裂腹鱼类的系统发育关界本文应用分支系统学的方法和原理，选择小裂腹鱼S．（R）parvus、中甸叶须鱼P.c.chunglienensis、松藩裸鲤。Gp.potanini、单纹似鳡L.langsoni、花妒鲤P.pingiregani、抚仙金线鱼巴s．师分别作为裂腹鱼类和细鳞鱼巴类中各分类：阶元的代，作为内a为了确考险状的进化极向并进一步探讨细鳞鱼巴各分类阶元与其他纪亚科和鲤亚科鱼类的系统关系，又选择了鳃亚科中的保山四须纪B．baoshanensis、云南四作为内群，并以螂鱼C.auratus、祀麓鲤C．(C)chilia作为外类群，用来对裂腹鱼类和细鳞鳃类进行性状的极化和系统发育分析。通过对12种24尾标本的外部形态和骨骼特征的全面观察，选择了63个性状进行描述和比较，并构建了供系统发育分析的特征矩阵。应用PAUP程序对特征矩阵进行运算，得出了包括外类群在内最简约的系统发育分支图。主要研究结论如下：（l）鲤亚科与包括裂腹鱼类在内的鳃亚科鱼类之间在很多特征方面存在着比较明显的差异，除了臀鳍最末一根不分枝鳍条坚硬、具锯齿；背鳍分枝多于1。根；第一椎体横突退化等特征外，还有镖的前后比例、前鳄骨的特征、尾舌骨的形状，基枕骨的骨质盘特征等诸多特征存在着显著差异。支持了陈湘舞等（1984）将鲤亚科和纪亚科分别作为独立亚科的观点。卿通过选取不同的外类群，在各种不同的条件下对特征数据矩阵进行运算和分析，除极少数（1个）结果外（当以祀麓鲤为唯一外群时，由34来看，它们都是第三纪末期以来由原始的鳃亚科鱼类演化而来的，适应过共同的寒冷环境（青藏高原的急剧隆升导致的寒冷气候和河川急流和青藏高原的大幅度隆起，引起了地貌环境的急剧改变，云贵高原一带也发生了差异性的升降运动。同时，全球性气温下降，常年性冰盖由北向南大幅度推进的寒冷气候环境）（曹文宣等，1981；王大忠等，2000）。裂腹鱼类和似鳃、妒鲤的起源时间可能稍晚一些。可以设想，第三纪末期的鳃亚科鱼类物种分化不是很多，相互之间的亲缘关系较近，分布于'青藏高原的原始鳃亚科鱼类和分布于云贵高原的原始鳃亚科鱼类分布经历了各自独特的地质、气候等环境条件，演化成为当今的裂腹鱼类和金线纪鱼类。至于似媳和妒鲤，除了经历与鳃亚科鱼类和金线鳃鱼类共同的寒冷水环境外，它们还向着肉食性的方向进行演化。（3）裂腹鱼类的3个代表种都聚在一起，其内部关系和与其他种的关系都较为稳定，为鳃亚科鱼类中较为特化的一支。与陈湘舞等（1984）、曹文宣等（1981）的观点较为一致，即，裂腹鱼类起源于纪亚科鱼类。晗（4）似媳和妒鲤之间的亲缘关系最近，它们很可能起源于最近的共同祖先。尽管二者作为一个单系的支持率并不是很高（大于50％，小于60％），但它们在个别特征（咽喉齿的排列方式、咽骨的形态特征）上表现其他鲤科鱼类所不具有的独特特征（附图1的。（5：）裂腹鱼类与妒鲤＋似鳃的系统关系最近，这意味着裂腹鱼类和妒鲤＋似鳃有最近的共同祖先或它们之间的关系较它们与金线鳃鱼类的关系更a（e）应用特征分析和系统发育分析所得的结论，综合对鳃系鱼类染色体特征的分析，认为裂腹鱼类和细鳞鳃鱼类在染色体分组组成、哪值等方面的相似特征，极有可能是在进化过程中经历了类似的寒冷水环境。它们之间的核型特征相似，只是说明了它们之间较近的系统发育关系，不支持妒鲤和金线靶是鳃亚科和裂腹鱼亚科之间的中间演化类型的观点。染色体的进化和外部形态特征的进化在纪系鱼类中存在着不平行的现象。（7）通过国内外鱼类学者对鲤科鱼类和纪亚科鱼类各分类单元定义的比较，结合本文的研究结果，认为国外学者的一些分类系统仍然存在一些尚待解决的问题，故建议目前暂不宜将之引入到我国的鱼类分类系统中。

矾山杂岩体成因及其与磷（铁）矿的成矿关系

The Fanshan complex consists of layered potassic ultramafic-syenite intrusions. The Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit occurs in the Fanshan complex, and is an important style of phosphorus deposit in China. The Fanshan complex consists of three (First- to Third-) Phases of intrusion, and then the dikes. The First-Phase Intrusive contains ten typical layered rocks: clinopyroxenite, biotite clinopyroxenite, coarse-grained biotite clinopyroxenite, pegmatitic orthoclase-biotite clinopyroxenite, variegated orthoclase clinopyroxenite, interstitial orthoclase clinopyroxenite, biotite rock, biotite-apatite rock, biotite rock and magnetite-apatite rock. This layered intrusive consists of nine rhythmic units. Each rhythmic unit essentially comprises a pair of layers: clinopyroxenite at the bottom and biotite clinopyroxenite at the top. The apatite (-magnetite) deposit is situated near the top of rhythmic Unit no. 6 of the First-Phase Intrusive. The Second-Phase Intrusive contains three typical rocks: coarse-grained orthoclase clinopyroxenite, . coarse-grained salite syenite and schorlomite-salite syenite. The Third-Phase Intrusive includes pseudo-trachytic salite syenite, porphyritic augite syenite, fine-grained orthoclase clinopyroxenite and fine-grained salite syenite. The origin of the Fanshan complex is always paid attention to it in China. Because most layered igneous intrusion in the world not only have important deposit in it, but also carry many useful information for studying the formation of the intrusion and the evolvement of magma. Two sketch maps were drawn through orebodies along no. 25 cross-cut on 425 mL and no. 1 cross-cut on 491 mL in the Fanshan mine. Through this mapping, a small-scaled rhythmic layering (called sub-rhythmic layering in the present study) was newly found at the top of the rhythmic Unit no. 6. The concept of sub-rhythmic layering is defined in this article. The sub-rhythmic layering is recognized throughout this apatite-rich part, except for magnetite-apatite rock. Presence of the layered magnetite-apatite rock is one of the characteristics of the Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit. Thus, from this layer downwards six units of sub-rhythmic layering are recognized in the present study. Each unit consists of biotite clinopyroxenite (or biotite rock and biotite-apatite rock) layer at the bottom and apatite rock layer at the top. To study this feature in detail is an important work for understanding the origin of the Fanshan complex and apatite (-magnetite) deposit. The origin of the Fanshan complex and the relation of the formation of the apatite(-magnetite)deposit will be interpreted by the study of sub-rhythmic layering on the basis of previous research works. The magma formed the Fanshan complex was rich in K2O, early crystallized pyroxene, and after this phase more biotite crystallized, but no amphibole appeared. This indicated that the activity of H2O in the magma was low. Major element compositions of biotite and clinopyroxene (on thin sections) in the sub-rhythmic layering were analyzed using electron microprobe analyzer. The analytical results indicate Mg/(Mg+Fe*+Mn) atomic ratios (Fe*, total iron) of these two minerals rhythmically changed in sub-rhythmic layering. The trends of Mg/(Mg+Fe*+Mn) atomic ratio (Fe*, total iron) of biotite and clinopyroxene indicate that the magma evolved markedly from relatively magnesian bottom layer to less magnesian top layer in each sub-rhythmic unit. A general trend through the sub-rhythmic layering sequence is both minerals becoming relatively magnesian upwards. The formation temperatures for sub-rhythmic layering yield values between 600 and 800 ℃, were calculated using the ratio of Mg/(Mg+Fe+Mn) in the salite and biotite assemblage. The equilibrium pressures in the rhythmic layers calculated using the contents of Al in the salite were plotted in the section map, shown a concave curve. This indicates that the magma formed the First-Phase Intrusive crystallized by two vis-a-vis ways, from its bottom and top to its centre, and the magnetite-apatite rock was crytallized in the latest stage. The values of equilibrium pressures in the sub-rhythmic layering were 3.6-6.8(xlO8) Pa with calculated using the contents of Al in the salite. The characteristics of geochemistry in various intrusive rocks and the rocks or apatite of sub-rhythmic layers indicated that the Fanshan complex formed by the comagmatic crystallization. The contents of immiscible elements and REEs of apatite rock at the top of one sub-rhythmic unit are more than biotite clinopyroxenite at the bottom. The contents of immiscible elements and REEs of apatite of biotite clinopyroxenite at the bottom of one sub-rhythmic unit are higher than apatite rock at the top. The curves of rocks (or apatite) in the upper sub-rhythmic units are between two curves of the below sub-rhythmic unit in the primitive mantle-normalized trace element abundance spider diagram and the primitive mantle-normalized REE pattern. The trend for the contents of immiscible elements and REEs inclines to the same contents from the bottom to the top in sub-rhythmic layering. These characteristics of geochemistry of rocks or apatites from sub-rhythmic layering indicate that the latter sub-rhythmic unit was produced by the residual magma after crystallization of the previous sub-rhythmic unit. The characteristics of petrology, petrochemistry, geochemistry in the Fanshan complex and sub-rhythmic layers and the trends of Mg/(Mg+Fe+Mn) atomic ratio of biotite and clinopyroxene in sub-rhytmic layering rejected the hypotheses, such as magma immiscibility, ravitational settling and multiple and pulse supplement of magma. The hypothesis of differentiation by crystallization lacks of evidences of field and excludes by this study. On the base of the trends of formation temperatures and pressures, the characteristics of petrology, petrochemistry, geochemistry for the Fanshan complex and the characteristics of geochemistry for the rocks (or apatites), the trends of Mg/(Mg+Fe+Mn) atomic ratio of biotite and clinopyroxene in sub-rhytmic layering, and the data of oxygen, hydrogen, strontium and neodymium isotopes, this study suggests that the magma formed the Fanshan complex was formed by low degree partial melting of mantle at a low activity of H2O, and went through the differentiation at the depth of mantle, then multiply intruded and crystallized. The rhythmic layers of the First-Phase Intrusive formed by the magma fractional crystallized in two vis-a-vis ways, from the bottom and top to the centre in-situ fractional crystallization. The apatite (-magnetite) deposit of the Fanshan complex occurs in sub-rhythmic layering sequence. The the origin of the sub-rhythmic layering is substantially the origin of the Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit. The magma formed the rhythmic layers of First-Phase Intrusive was rich in H2O, F and P at the later stage of its in-situ fractional crystallization. The Fanshan apatite (-magnetite) deposit was formed by this residual magma in-situ fractional crystallization. The magnetite-apatite rock was crystallized by two vis-a-vis ways at the latest stage in-situ fractional crystallization in the rhythmic layers. The result was light apatite layer below heavy the magnetite-apatite layer, formed an "inversion" phenomenon.

Les habiletés spatio-cognitives des aveugles de naissance : résolution de labyrinthes tactiles

La navigation repose en majeure partie sur la vision puisque ce sens nous permet de rassembler des informations spatiales de façon simultanée et de mettre à jour notre position par rapport à notre environnement. Pour plusieurs aveugles qui se fient à l’audition, le toucher, la proprioception, l’odorat et l’écholocation pour naviguer, sortir à l’extérieur de chez soi peut représenter un défi considérable. Les recherches sur le circuit neuronal de la navigation chez cette population en particulier s’avèrent donc primordiales pour mieux adapter les ressources aux handicapés visuels et réussir à les sortir de leur isolement. Les aveugles de naissance constituent aussi une population d’intérêt pour l’étude de la neuroplasticité. Comme leur cerveau s’est construit en absence d’intrant visuel, la plupart des structures reliées au sens de la vue sont réduites en volume par rapport à ceux de sujets voyants. De plus, leur cortex occipital, une région normalement dédiée à la vision, possède une activité supramétabolique au repos, ce qui peut représenter un territoire vierge pouvant être recruté par les autres modalités pour exécuter diverses tâches sensorielles. Plusieurs chercheurs ont déjà démontré l’implication de cette région dans des tâches sensorielles comme la discrimination tactile et la localisation auditive. D’autres changements plastiques de nature intramodale ont aussi été observés dans le circuit neuronal de la navigation chez ces aveugles. Par exemple, la partie postérieure de l’hippocampe, impliquée dans l’utilisation de cartes mentales, est réduite en volume alors que la section antérieure est élargie chez ces sujets. Bien que ces changements plastiques anatomiques aient bel et bien été observés chez les aveugles de naissance, il reste toutefois à les relier avec leur aspect fonctionnel. Le but de la présente étude était d’investiguer les corrélats neuronaux de la navigation chez l’aveugle de naissance tout en les reliant avec leurs habiletés spatio-cognitives. La première étude comportementale a permis d’identifier chez les aveugles congénitaux une difficulté d’apprentissage de routes tactiles construites dans des labyrinthes de petite échelle. La seconde étude, employant la technique d’imagerie par résonance magnétique fonctionnelle, a relié ces faiblesses au recrutement de régions cérébrales impliquées dans le traitement d’une perspective égocentrique, comme le lobule pariétal supérieur droit. Alors que des sujets voyants aux yeux bandés excellaient dans la tâche des labyrinthes, ces derniers recrutaient des structures impliquées dans un traitement allocentrique, comme l’hippocampe et le parahippocampe. Par ailleurs, la deuxième étude a confirmé le recrutement du cortex occipital dans une tâche de navigation chez les aveugles seulement. Ceci confirme l’implication de la plasticité intermodale dans des tâches cognitives de plus haut niveau, comme la navigation.

Status and Potential of Smallholder Livestock Production Systems in Xishuangbanna, southern P.R. China

With Chinas rapid economic development during the last decades, the national demand for livestock products has quadrupled within the last 20 years. Most of that increase in demand has been answered by subsidized industrialized production systems, while million of smallholders, which still provide the larger share of livestock products in the country, have been neglected. Fostering those systems would help China to lower its strong urban migration streams, enhance the livelihood of poorer rural population and provide environmentally save livestock products which have a good chance to satisfy customers demand for ecological food. Despite their importance, China’s smallholder livestock keepers have not yet gained appropriate attention from governmental authorities and researchers. However, profound analysis of those systems is required so that adequate support can lead to a better resource utilization and productivity in the sector. To this aim, this pilot study analyzes smallholder livestock production systems in Xishuangbanna, located in southern China. The area is bordered by Lao and Myanmar and geographically counts as tropical region. Its climate is characterized by dry and temperate winters and hot summers with monsoon rains from May to October. While the regionis plain, at about 500 m asl above sea level in the south, outliers of the Himalaya mountains reach out into the north of Xishuangbanna, where the highest peak reaches 2400 m asl. Except of one larger city, Jinghong, Xishuangbanna mainly is covered by tropical rainforest, areas under agricultural cultivation and villages. The major income is generated through inner-Chinese tourism and agricultural production. Intensive rubber plantations are distinctive for the lowland plains while small-scaled traditional farms are scattered in the mountane regions. In order to determine the current state and possible future chances of smallholder livestock production in that region, this study analyzed the current status of the smallholder livestock sector in the Naban River National Nature Reserve (NRNNR), an area which is largely representative for the whole prefecture. It covers an area of about 50square kilometer and reaches from 470 up to 2400 m asl. About 5500 habitants of different ethnic origin are situated in 24 villages. All data have been collected between October 2007 and May 2010. Three major objectives have been addressed in the study: 1. Classifying existing pig production systems and exploring respective pathways for development 2. Quantifying the performance of pig breeding systemsto identify bottlenecks for production 3. Analyzing past and current buffalo utilization to determine the chances and opportunities of buffalo keeping in the future In order to classify the different pig production s ystems, a baseline survey (n=204, stratified cluster sampling) was carried out to gain data about livestock species, numbers, management practices, cultivated plant species and field sizes as well associo-economic characteristics. Sampling included two clusters at village level (altitude, ethnic affiliation), resulting in 13 clusters of which 13-17 farms were interviewed respectively. Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CatPCA) and a two-step clustering algorithm have been applied to identify determining farm characteristics and assort recorded households into classes of livestock production types. The variables keep_sow_yes/no, TLU_pig, TLU_buffalo, size_of_corn_fields, altitude_class, size_of_tea_plantationand size_of_rubber_fieldhave been found to be major determinants for the characterization of the recorded farms. All farms have extensive or semi-intensive livestock production, pigs and buffaloes are predominant livestock species while chicken and aquaculture are available but play subordinate roles for livelihoods. All pig raisers rely on a single local breed, which is known as Small Ear Pig (SMEP) in the region. Three major production systemshave been identified: Livestock-corn based LB; 41%), rubber based (RB; 39%) and pig based (PB;20%) systems. RB farms earn high income from rubber and fatten 1.9 ±1.80 pigs per household (HH), often using purchased pig feed at markets. PB farms own similar sized rubber plantations and raise 4.7 ±2.77 pigs per HH, with fodder mainly being cultivated and collected in theforest. LB farms grow corn, rice and tea and keep 4.6 ±3.32 pigs per HH, also fed with collected and cultivated fodder. Only 29% of all pigs were marketed (LB: 20%; RB: 42%; PB: 25%), average annual mortality was 4.0 ±4.52 pigs per farm (LB: 4.6 ±3.68; RB: 1.9 ±2.14; PB: 7.1 ±10.82). Pig feed mainly consists of banana pseudo stem, corn and rice hives and is prepared in batches about two to three times per week. Such fodder might be sufficient in energy content but lacks appropriate content of protein. Pigs therefore suffer from malnutrition, which becomes most critical in the time before harvest season around October. Farmers reported high occurrences of gastrointestinal parasites in carcasses and often pig stables were wet and filled with manure. Deficits in nutritional and hygienic management are major limits for development and should be the first issues addressed to improve productivity. SME pork was found to be known and referred by local customers in town and by richer lowland farmers. However, high prices and lacking availability of SME pork at local wet-markets were the reasons which limited purchase. If major management constraints are overcome, pig breeders (PB and LB farms) could increase the share of marketed pigs for town markets and provide fatteners to richer RB farmers. RB farmers are interested in fattening pigs for home consumption but do not show any motivation for commercial pig raising. To determine the productivity of input factors in pig production, eproductive performance, feed quality and quantity as well as weight development of pigs under current management were recorded. The data collection included a progeny history survey covering 184 sows and 437 farrows, bi-weekly weighing of 114 pigs during a 16-months time-span on 21 farms (10 LB and 11 PB) as well as the daily recording of feed quality and quantity given to a defined number of pigs on the same 21 farms. Feed samples of all recorded ingredients were analyzed for their respective nutrient content. Since no literature values on thedigestibility of banana pseudo stem – which is a major ingredient of traditional pig feed in NRNNR – were found, a cross-sectional digestibility trial with 2x4 pigs has been conducted on a station in the research area. With the aid of PRY Herd Life Model, all data have been utilized to determine thesystems’ current (Status Quo = SQ) output and the productivity of the input factor “feed” in terms of saleable life weight per kg DM feed intake and monetary value of output per kg DM feed intake.Two improvement scenarios were simulated, assuming 1) that farmers adopt a culling managementthat generates the highest output per unit input (Scenario 1; SC I) and 2) that through improved feeding, selected parameters of reproduction are improved by 30% (SC II). Daily weight gain averaged 55 ± 56 g per day between day 200 and 600. The average feed energy content of traditional feed mix was 14.92 MJ ME. Age at first farrowing averaged 14.5 ± 4.34 months, subsequent inter-farrowing interval was 11.4 ± 2.73 months. Littersize was 5.8 piglets and weaning age was 4.3 ± 0.99 months. 18% of piglets died before weaning. Simulating pig production at actualstatus, it has been show that monetary returns on inputs (ROI) is negative (1:0.67), but improved (1:1.2) when culling management was optimized so that highest output is gained per unit feed input. If in addition better feeding, controlled mating and better resale prices at fixed dates were simulated, ROI further increased to 1:2.45, 1:2.69, 1:2.7 and 1:3.15 for four respective grower groups. Those findings show the potential of pork production, if basic measures of improvement are applied. Futureexploration of the environment, including climate, market-season and culture is required before implementing the recommended measures to ensure a sustainable development of a more effective and resource conserving pork production in the future. The two studies have shown that the production of local SME pigs plays an important role in traditional farms in NRNNR but basic constraints are limiting their productivity. However, relatively easy approaches are sufficient for reaching a notable improvement. Also there is a demand for more SME pork on local markets and, if basic constraints have been overcome, pig farmers could turn into more commercial producers and provide pork to local markets. By that, environmentally safe meat can be offered to sensitive consumers while farmers increase their income and lower the risk of external shocks through a more diverse income generating strategy. Buffaloes have been found to be the second important livestock species on NRNNR farms. While they have been a core resource of mixed smallholderfarms in the past, the expansion of rubber tree plantations and agricultural mechanization are reasons for decreased swamp buffalo numbers today. The third study seeks to predict future utilization of buffaloes on different farm types in NRNNR by analyzing the dynamics of its buffalo population and land use changes over time and calculating labor which is required for keeping buffaloes in view of the traction power which can be utilized for field preparation. The use of buffaloes for field work and the recent development of the egional buffalo population were analyzed through interviews with 184 farmers in 2007/2008 and discussions with 62 buffalo keepers in 2009. While pig based farms (PB; n=37) have abandoned buffalo keeping, 11% of the rubber based farms (RB; n=71) and 100% of the livestock-corn based farms (LB; n=76) kept buffaloes in 2008. Herd size was 2.5 ±1.80 (n=84) buffaloes in early 2008 and 2.2 ±1.69 (n=62) in 2009. Field work on own land was the main reason forkeeping buffaloes (87.3%), but lending work buffaloes to neighbors (79.0%) was also important. Other purposes were transport of goods (16.1%), buffalo trade (11.3%) and meat consumption(6.4%). Buffalo care required 6.2 ±3.00 working hours daily, while annual working time of abuffalo was 294 ±216.6 hours. The area ploughed with buffaloes remained constant during the past 10 years despite an expansion of land cropped per farm. Further rapid replacement of buffaloes by tractors is expected in the near future. While the work economy is drastically improved by the use of tractors, buffaloes still can provide cheap work force and serve as buffer for economic shocks on poorer farms. Especially poor farms, which lack alternative assets that could quickly be liquidizedin times of urgent need for cash, should not abandon buffalo keeping. Livestock has been found to be a major part of small mixed farms in NRNNR. The general productivity was low in both analyzed species, buffaloes and pigs. Productivity of pigs can be improved through basic adjustments in feeding, reproductive and hygienic management, and with external support pig production could further be commercialized to provide pork and weaners to local markets and fattening farms. Buffalo production is relatively time intensive, and only will be of importance in the future to very poor farms and such farms that cultivate very small terraces on steep slopes. These should be encouraged to further keep buffaloes. With such measures, livestock production in NRNNR has good chances to stay competitive in the future.

Protótipo de um microgerador termoelétrico de estado sólido: cogeração a gás

The thermoelectric energy conversion can be performed directly on generators without moving parts, using the principle of SEEBECK effect, obtained in junctions of drivers' thermocouples and most recently in semiconductor junctions type p-n which have increased efficiency of conversion. When termogenerators are exposed to the temperature difference (thermal gradient) eletromotriz a force is generated inducing the appearance of an electric current in the circuit. Thus, it is possible to convert the heat of combustion of a gas through a burner in power, being a thermoelectric generator. The development of infrared burners, using porous ceramic plate, is possible to improve the efficiency of heating, and reduce harmful emissions such as CO, CO2, NOx, etc.. In recent years the meliorate of thermoelectric modules semiconductor (TEG's) has stimulated the development of devices generating and recovery of thermal irreversibility of thermal machines and processes, improving energy efficiency and exergy these systems, especially processes that enable the cogeneration of energy. This work is based on the construction and evaluation of a prototype in a pilot scale, for energy generation to specific applications. The unit uses a fuel gas (LPG) as a primary energy source. The prototype consists of a porous plate burner infrared, an adapter to the module generator, a set of semiconductor modules purchased from Hi-Z Inc. and a heat exchanger to be used as cold source. The prototype was mounted on a test bench, using a system of acquisition of temperature, a system of application of load and instrumentation to assess its functioning and performance. The prototype had an efficiency of chemical conversion of 0.31% for electrical and heat recovery for cogeneration of about 33.2%, resulting in an overall efficiency of 33.51%. The efficiency of energy exergy next shows that the use of primary energy to useful fuel was satisfactory, although the proposed mechanism has also has a low performance due to underuse of the area heated by the small number of modules, as well as a thermal gradient below the ideal informed by the manufacturer, and other factors. The test methodology adopted proved to be suitable for evaluating the prototype

Active tectonics in the NW-German Basin: Evidence from correlations between the modern landscape and deep geological structures (Lower Saxony, river Hunte)

KurzfassungIm Einzugsgebiet der Hunte (NW-Deutsches Becken, Niedersachsen) wurde untersucht, ob die Landschaftsgenese durch tektonische Bewegungen der Oberkruste beeinflußt ist. Krustenbewegungen führten im Bereich einer Hauptschollengrenze zu einer Hebung der weichselzeitlichen Niederterrasse (durchschnittliche Hebungssrate von ~0,5 mm/a über die letzten 12000 Jahre). Tektonischer Einfluß auf die heutige Landoberfläche ist über einem permischen Salzkissen zu verzeichnen, wo sich das Gefälle der holozänen Aue umkehrt. Krustenbewegungen haben mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit Vorzugsrichtungen verursacht, die an der Tertiärbasis und in der heutigen Landschaft nachweisbar sind (0-5° und 90-95°). Das Abfließen der Hunte nach Norden scheint durch eine aktive, nordwärts gerichtete Kippung des NW-Deutschen Beckens verursacht zu sein. Hohe lineare Korrelationskoeffizienten zwischen Tiefenlage der Tertiärbasis und Höhenlage der heutigen Landoberfläche weisen auf eine aktive Kippung des Beckens hin. Beckensubsidenz hat möglicherweise die Akkumulation der weichselzeitlichen Niederterrasse gesteuert, da eine Übereinstimmung zwischen rezenter Beckensubsidenz und durchschnittlicher Sedimentationsrate des Niederterrassenkörpers besteht. Untersuchungen an einer geschlossenen Hohlform deuten auf eine aktive Sackungsstruktur hin, da sich Anomalien des geologischen Untergrundes mit der topographischen Lage der Struktur decken.

Pore structure and column efficiency of silica monoliths in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Five different methods were critically examined to characterize the pore structure of the silica monoliths. The mesopore characterization was performed using: a) the classical BJH method of nitrogen sorption data, which showed overestimated values in the mesopore distribution and was improved by using the NLDFT method, b) the ISEC method implementing the PPM and PNM models, which were especially developed for monolithic silicas, that contrary to the particulate supports, demonstrate the two inflection points in the ISEC curve, enabling the calculation of pore connectivity, a measure for the mass transfer kinetics in the mesopore network, c) the mercury porosimetry using a new recommended mercury contact angle values. rnThe results of the characterization of mesopores of monolithic silica columns by the three methods indicated that all methods were useful with respect to the pore size distribution by volume, but only the ISEC method with implemented PPM and PNM models gave the average pore size and distribution based on the number average and the pore connectivity values.rnThe characterization of the flow-through pore was performed by two different methods: a) the mercury porosimetry, which was used not only for average flow-through pore value estimation, but also the assessment of entrapment. It was found that the mass transfer from the flow-through pores to mesopores was not hindered in case of small sized flow-through pores with a narrow distribution, b) the liquid penetration where the average flow-through pore values were obtained via existing equations and improved by the additional methods developed according to Hagen-Poiseuille rules. The result was that not the flow-through pore size influences the column bock pressure, but the surface area to volume ratio of silica skeleton is most decisive. Thus the monolith with lowest ratio values will be the most permeable. rnThe flow-through pore characterization results obtained by mercury porosimetry and liquid permeability were compared with the ones from imaging and image analysis. All named methods enable a reliable characterization of the flow-through pore diameters for the monolithic silica columns, but special care should be taken about the chosen theoretical model.rnThe measured pore characterization parameters were then linked with the mass transfer properties of monolithic silica columns. As indicated by the ISEC results, no restrictions in mass transfer resistance were noticed in mesopores due to their high connectivity. The mercury porosimetry results also gave evidence that no restrictions occur for mass transfer from flow-through pores to mesopores in the small scaled silica monoliths with narrow distribution. rnThe prediction of the optimum regimes of the pore structural parameters for the given target parameters in HPLC separations was performed. It was found that a low mass transfer resistance in the mesopore volume is achieved when the nominal diameter of the number average size distribution of the mesopores is appr. an order of magnitude larger that the molecular radius of the analyte. The effective diffusion coefficient of an analyte molecule in the mesopore volume is strongly dependent on the value of the nominal pore diameter of the number averaged pore size distribution. The mesopore size has to be adapted to the molecular size of the analyte, in particular for peptides and proteins. rnThe study on flow-through pores of silica monoliths demonstrated that the surface to volume of the skeletons ratio and external porosity are decisive for the column efficiency. The latter is independent from the flow-through pore diameter. The flow-through pore characteristics by direct and indirect approaches were assessed and theoretical column efficiency curves were derived. The study showed that next to the surface to volume ratio, the total porosity and its distribution of the flow-through pores and mesopores have a substantial effect on the column plate number, especially as the extent of adsorption increases. The column efficiency is increasing with decreasing flow through pore diameter, decreasing with external porosity, and increasing with total porosity. Though this tendency has a limit due to heterogeneity of the studied monolithic samples. We found that the maximum efficiency of the studied monolithic research columns could be reached at a skeleton diameter of ~ 0.5 µm. Furthermore when the intention is to maximize the column efficiency, more homogeneous monoliths should be prepared.rn

De-Territorialization and Re-Territorialization of “the social”. A debate

Deterritorialization has been used as an anthropological concept to designate the weakened ties between culture and place: Certain cultural/social processes and relations seem to increasingly transcend their previously given territorial boundaries in flexible capitalist societies. At the same time, policy studies, especially Studies on Governmentality, have emphasized the re-territorialization of the social, in which the former national welfare arrangements (welfare and nation state) as the scale of bio-political integration patterns are more and more substituted by small scaled inclusion areas (e.g. neighbourhoods, districts and communities). Drawing on Deleuze and Guattari, de-territorialization processes have therefore always to be understood as combined with processes of a re-territorialization, producing new spatial formations. In this view, spatial arrangements and connections are not given and static structures, but controversial and unstable – nevertheless they are influential.

Pollen record from Kleiner Mochowsee, Germany

A Holocene pollen diagram from Kleiner Mochowsee (northern Niederlausitz, East Germany) shows pine as an important constituent of the woodland south of the Schwielochsee. Oak woodland was widespread since the Atlantic. Betula lost its importance at the end of the Preboreal. Fagus is represented continuously in the pollen record since the Atlantic, Carpinus since the Subboreal. However, the two latter tree species remain without great importance throughout the whole pollen record. The poor sandy soils are furthermore reflected by the low values of Corylus during the Boreal, comparable to other records from Berlin and its surrounding area. The 'classical' elm decline could be shown for the Niederlausitz, radiocarbon dates assume a contemporaneous age for this event with other records from northern Germany. Only small-scaled human impact is indicated in prehistoric times, during the migration period it seems to have ceased completely. Later, in the Medieval, deforestation and tillage can be shown. Secale was cultivated since the early Medieval; an accompanying weed flora appeared at the same time. Cultivation of Fagopyrum and Linum usitatissimum could be shown for the late Medieval times.

Low dimensionality of supraspinally induced force fields

Recent experiments using electrical and N-methyl-d-aspartate microstimulation of the spinal cord gray matter and cutaneous stimulation of the hindlimb of spinalized frogs have provided evidence for a modular organization of the frog’s spinal cord circuitry. A “module” is a functional unit in the spinal cord circuitry that generates a specific motor output by imposing a specific pattern of muscle activation. The output of a module can be characterized as a force field: the collection of the isometric forces generated at the ankle over different locations in the leg’s workspace. Different modules can be combined independently so that their force fields linearly sum. The goal of this study was to ascertain whether the force fields generated by the activation of supraspinal structures could result from combinations of a small number of modules. We recorded a set of force fields generated by the electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve in seven frogs, and we performed a principal component analysis to study the dimensionality of this set. We found that 94% of the total variation of the data is explained by the first five principal components, a result that indicates that the dimensionality of the set of fields evoked by vestibular stimulation is low. This result is compatible with the hypothesis that vestibular fields are generated by combinations of a small number of spinal modules.