172,651 research outputs found
Raid at Los Banos.
No full textThe American experience in rescuing its prisoners-of-war (P.O.W.s) and political hostages has been marked with failure and often disaster. In reviewing our experience, most people remember the Son Tay raid, the Mayaquez incident, and the Iranian hostage attempt but overlook our one notable success. On 23 February 1945, elements of the 11th Airborne Division conducted a combined parachute assault, amphibious landing, and diversionary ground attack to rescue over 2,100 civilian internees held by the Japanese at Los Banos, Luzon, Philippine Islands. This mission provides an excellent opportunity to consider some key elements of the prisoner rescue mission
Combining historical and C-14 data to assess pyroclastic density current hazards in Banos city near Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador)
No full textPyroclastic density currents (PDCs) from Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador, recurrently rush down the northern Vazcun valley and threaten the small tourist city of Banos located on its mouth. Estimating PDC hazards, i.e. PDC return rate and extent, is difficult in Banos and Vazcun because data from the literature are rare and debated, while geological exposures are few and vegetated. To improve our awareness of PDC hazards in the Banos area, we examined historical documents, conducted new geological research in the Vazcun valley, and obtained additional C-14 data. We highlight complex radiocarbon results that may lead to difficulties when interpreting the PDC chronology, and offer recommendations to improve sampling strategies for C-14 age determinations of PDC deposits. Overall, our results show that the 1640, 1773, and 1886 PDC-forming eruptions are recorded in the valley, while products of the 1918 and 2006 events were likely removed. Through considering recorded/unrecorded bias in the reconstruction of past PDC emplacement in Vazcun, we calculate a minimal average return rate of 18 PDC-forming events for pre-Columbian and historical eruptions since the devastating 3 ka BP eruption, which translates into a maximum average return rate of 150-200 years in the valley. However, the archives suggest that most PDCs did not affected the now-urbanized Banos area (e.g. 1918, 2006) and we estimate that the city is impacted on average every 350-500 years, a duration that is likely perceived as fairly long for people living in the area. The Banos case-study thus raises questions on how to communicate on uncertain threats and impacts, and how to improve alert messages in a town where economic incomes are essentially based on tourist activities. To better address these issues we plan in future works to focus on cognitive perception of risk and volcanic hazard judgment by populations of Banos and nearby rural communities
Perturbation solutions of the rotation of rigid bodies close to principal axes of inertia under gravity gradient torque
No full textBlogForever D5.5: Case Studies Comparative Analysis and Conclusions
No full textThis report presents the analysis and conclusions of the BlogForever Case Studies based on internal and external testing results, as well as recorded system logs. The case studies are paramount for the evaluation of the performance and the impact of the BlogForever platform
Genetic profile of total body energy content of Holstein cows in the first three lactations
No full textWeekly total body energy content (TBEC) was calculated for 444 Holstein cows in their first 3 lactations. These calculations were based on body lipid and protein changes predicted from weekly changes in body condition score and live weight of each cow. In first lactation, cows lost TBEC during the initial 8 wk, regained it by wk 22, and continued to build up their reserves until wk 37. Cows started lactations 2 and 3 with considerable reserves from the dry period that they used during the first 13 wk of lactation. Variance components for TBEC were estimated using random regression analysis allowing for heterogeneous residual variance. The genetic variance increased within each lactation, suggesting that the genetic component becomes more important as lactation progresses. The genetic correlations between very early ( wk 1 to 4) and later stages of first lactation were near zero but they increased considerably between later lactation stages. Genetic correlations between TBEC on wk 5 of first lactation and the remainder of this lactation ranged from 0.64 for the more distant weeks to 0.99 for the immediately subsequent weeks. Genetic correlations with TBEC in second lactation were moderately high (0.68 to 0.70) for the early weeks ( 1 to 8) and decreased gradually to 0.56 for weeks at the end of lactation. For third lactation, these estimates ranged from 0.53 to 0.63. Genetic correlation estimates of TBEC in wk 12 of first lactation with subsequent first-lactation weeks varied from 0.79 to 0.99, whereas they ranged from 0.65 to 0.77 and from 0.57 to 0.68 in second and third lactations, respectively. The genetic correlation between TBEC in later weeks of first lactation and the rest of productive life increased as first lactation progressed, but the improvement diminished. Weekly genetic evaluations for first-lactation TBEC were used to predict second- and third-lactation energy content. The accuracy of these predictions increased with progressing weeks in first lactation, but about three-fourths of the improvement occurred by wk 5. Our results suggest that TBEC calculated after a month from the first calving may give useful information about the future energy content of a cow.</p
Essere transdisciplinare: la relazione tra Pedagogia, Medicina e Scienze della vita
No full textNel XX secolo la ricerca scientifica ha permesso di realizzare progressi scientifici e tecnologici senza precedenti nell’evoluzione della storia umana. Tuttavia, allo stesso tempo, ha contribuito a far sì che alcune discipline approfondissero conoscenze sempre più specialistiche, favorendo un pensiero frammentato e frammentario che, nel caso della medicina, ha privilegiato la malattia e non il soggetto malato come oggetto di osservazione. Il caso delle scienze della vita, invece, insieme di discipline scientifiche che studiano organismi e microrganismi, dimostra come sia possibile una “contaminazione” disciplinare per comprendere in profondità i diversi meccanismi della vita e le loro implicazioni sociali ed etiche che vanno oltre una comprensione frammentaria della realtà. Secondo gli Autori, la conoscenza derivante da questa contaminazione è rilevantemente connessa agli obiettivi della formazione in campo medico e delinea una nuova prospettiva epistemologica di integrazione delle conoscenze per la salute
Monilinia fructicol, Monilinia laxa (Monilinia Rot, Brown Rot)
No full textMonilinia spp. causing brown rot is a fungal pathogen producing severe losses in worldwide stone fruit production, with high economic relevance (M€ 1.7/year). There are three main fungal species: Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and M. fructicola. The pathogen infects aerial parts of host plants with a variety of symptoms, including blighting of blossoms, cankers on woody tissues and rotting of fruits, although the prevalent fruit losses are in the postharvest phase. Fungicide sprays in pre and postharvest periods are usually used to control Monilinia spp., but in Europe no fungicide fruit treatments are allowed after harvest. Many studies conducted in recent years have defined three main research fields within the alternative methods for postharvest brown rot control: i) biological control sensu strictum with microbial antagonists, ii) use of natural bioactive compounds and iii) use of physico-chemical methods. Although the reviewed results have reported a significant reduction of pesticide use, recommend a multidisciplinary approach in the future, where biological products will be combined with low risk chemical fungicides, natural antimicrobial substances and other physical means for an integrated strategy to control brown rot
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