Selective lifetime measurements by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy for 5 levels belonging to the 4f(3)5d configuration of doubly ionized neodymium provide a first and useful experimental test of the relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations in this ion of astrophysical interest. As a consequence, the accuracy of the transition probabilities deduced in the present work is well as

Assessments of terrestrial carbon fluxes require a thorough understanding of links between primary production, soil respiration and carbon loss through drainage. In this study, stem girdling was used to terminate autotrophic soil respiration including rhizosphere respiration and root exudation in a temperate Norway spruce stand. Rates of soil respiration and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) formatio

Square-wave (SQW) ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 280–315 nm) radiation supplementation systems continue to be used in outdoor experimental locations due to the economically restrictive installation and maintenance costs, and technical expertise required to effectively operate more advanced modulated (MOD) delivery systems. However, continued yet contentious criticisms of SQW delivery systems risk creating p

Control beliefs, i.e. a person's perceived control over his or her own behaviour, are important predictors of psychological functioning in old age. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating effect of housing-related control beliefs on the relationship between housing accessibility and independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Moreover, cross-national differences in five European co

The interaction between the nonionic surfactant C12EO6 and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer EO20PO68EO20 (P123) has been investigated by means of isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS). P123 self-assembles in water into spherical micelles at ambient temperatu

We approach the field of stress immunology from an ecological point of view and ask: why should a heavy physical workload, for example as a result of a high reproductive effort, compromise immune function? We argue that immunosuppression by neuroendocrine mechanisms, such as stress hormones, during heavy physical workload is adaptive, and consider two different ultimate explanations of such immuno

After a historic introduction, today's wind power technology is reviewed on a systems level, with some details, and with some brave suggestions for wind technology 2030 when power electronics (PE) will be some 2000 GW. Eternal themes like "electricity storage" are avoided. Aspects of drive-trains in towers and collection grids in parks are concisely described in the paper's core, including: 1) a p

The present study constitutes the first finding of the calcium-binding protein S100B and of its mRNA in human milk, as revealed by a quantitative immunoluminometric assay, by Western blot analysis and by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay followed by restriction enzyme digestion. The concentration of S100B in milk is markedly higher than that observed in other biologica

Results from large scale, ab initio MCHF calculations are presented for the transition properties of the 3s2 3p2(3)P(J-)e{3s3p3, 3s2 3p3d, 3s2 3p4s} 5S2o and 3P2o intercombination and resonance lines in P II. The agreement with experiment is good, the systematic approach shows convergence and the agreement between different forms of the oscillator strength is excellent for the resonance lines.

A new control strategy is introduced for operating anaerobic digestion processes efficiently at high load. The control system includes a cascade controller embedded into a rule-based supervisory system based on extremum-seeking control. The control system measures pH and biogas production rate and varies the organic load by manipulating the influent flow. Good control performances were achieved du

We compare two ternary microemulsions, stabilized by the nonionic surfactant pentaethylene-glycol-dodecyl-ether (C12E5), containing decane or hexadecane. The comparison involves phase behavior and properties of O/W droplet microemulsions investigated with SAXS, static and dynamic light scattering, and NMR. Striking differences are observed. The systems are analyzed in terms of curvature elastic pr

Purpose: The physiological importance of muscarinic M-3 and M-2 receptors for bladder function was investigated in vivo using mice lacking M-3 or M-2 receptors and littermate WT controls. Materials and Methods: Unanesthetized mice of each sex underwent continuous cystometry before and after administration of atropine (1 mg/kg(-1)). Results: Male M-3 knockout (KO) mice had longer voiding intervals,

In the DRM paradigm, illusory memories of a nonpresented word can be induced by the presentation of strong associates to this word. In two experiments, we explored previous findings of false implicit memory of the nonpresented words (McDermott, 1997; McKone & Murphy, 2000). Experiment 1 extended the finding of false priming to the anagram task. Furthermore, participants attributed this "false"

The article discusses the role of language in conceptualising national identity in ethnonationalist Ukrainophone discourse. It especially focuses on attitudes to the Ukrainian-Russian contact variety surzhyk.

Can a deliberate enhancement of the natural uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide in forests and agricultural lands contribute to the efforts to mitigation anthropogenic climate change? This is a question that has generated a great deal of debate and controversy since the inception of the multilateral climate negotiations in the early 1990s. This thesis offers an analysis of how this debate has pla