Ionospheric quasi-static electric field anomalies during seismic activity in August–September 1981

The paper proposes new results, analyses and information for the plate tectonic situation in the processing of INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 satellite data about anomalies of the quasi-static electric field in the upper ionosphere over activated earthquake source regions at different latitudes. The earthquake catalogue is made on the basis of information from the United State Geological Survey (USGS) website. The disturbances in ionospheric quasi-static electric fields are recorded by IESP-1 instrument aboard the INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 satellite and they are compared with significant seismic events from the period 14 August–20 September 1981 in magnetically very quiet, quiet and medium quiet days. The main tectonic characteristics of the seismically activated territories are also taken in account. The main goal of the above research work is to enlarge the research of possible connections between anomalous vertical electric field penetrations into the ionosphere and the earthquake manifestations, also to propose tectonic arguments for the observed phenomena. The studies are represented in four main blocks: (i) previous studies of similar problems, (ii) selection of satellite, seismic and plate tectonic data, (iii) data processing with new specialized software and observations of the quasi-static electric field and (iiii) summary, comparison of new with previous results in our studies and conclusion. We establish the high informativity of the vertical component <i>Ez</i> of the quasi-static electric field in the upper ionosphere according observations by INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 that are placed above considerably activated earthquake sources. This component shows an increase of about 2–10 mV/m above sources, situated on mobile structures of the plates. The paper discusses the observed effects. It is represented also a statistical study of ionospheric effects 5–15 days before and 5–15 days after the earthquakes with magnitude M 4.8–7.9

Refroidissement de fluides complexes : étude des performances de différentes technologies

Un grand nombre d’industries (chimiques, pharmaceutiques et agroalimentaires) utilisent, produisent ou transforment des fluides complexes. Ce sont des fluides à viscosité élevée, souvent de comportement non-Newtonien. Leur préparation nécessite souvent une étape de chauffe suivie d’une étape de refroidissement. La chauffe est indispensable afin de faciliter la fabrication (réaction chimique et/ou transformation physico-chimique). Le refroidissement, ou encore l’étape de finition, consiste à amener les fluides jusqu’à une température proche de la température ambiante pour aborder l'étape de conditionnement. Le refroidissement est le plus souvent réalisé « in situ » dans la même cuve agitée, équipée d’une double enveloppe (utilisée pour la fabrication), mais des technologies en continu peuvent également être envisagées. Ces travaux de thèse portent sur la mise en place d’une méthodologie de pilotage de la vitesse d’agitation lors du refroidissement de fluides complexes dans des cuves agitées, ainsi que sur la comparaison des performances de la cuve agitée avec celles du mélangeur statique. Deux fluides de travail sont testés : Newtonien et viscoplastique, en régime d’écoulement laminaire et transitoire. Nous déterminons les limites de l’influence de l’agitation sur le transfert thermique, la durée de l’opération et la quantité d’énergie consommée. En premier lieu, le refroidissement est étudié à l’échelle laboratoire (réacteur de 0,6L). Il a été constaté que le changement de la vitesse d’agitation au cours du refroidissement affecte le profil de température. Cela a un impact avantageux sur le coût énergétique et/ ou la durée de refroidissement. Les tendances observées à l’échelle laboratoire sont transposées et validées à l’échelle pilote (réacteur de 60L). Puis deux types de mélangeurs statiques sont étudiés comme technologie en continu. Nous établissons des modèles de perte de charge que nous utilisons dans la détermination de l’énergie dépensée pour le refroidissement. Ensuite nous réalisons une comparaison de leurs performances en fonction des facteurs d’efficacité de transfert thermique et de consommation énergétique. Enfin, une brève analyse comparée est exposée, présentant les divers critères de choix entre la cuve agitée et la technologie en continu. ABSTRACT : Highly viscous Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids are frequently encountered in the process industries (like pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics). The preparing of such products involves heating and cooling steps. The heating stage is essential in order to facilitate the production (chemical reaction and/or physico-chemical transformation). The cooling step, named also final stage, leads the fluids to ambient temperature and prepares them for the conditioning. The cooling is mostly realized "in situ" in the same double jacketed stirred vessel, (used for the manufacturing), but continuous technologies may also be employed. This study aims to investigate the cooling of highly viscous fluids, and intends to define the best conditions for controlling the impeller speed (constant or variable) in a stirred vessel, as well as to compare the performances of the stirred vessel with those of the static mixer. Two fluids are tested: a Newtonian and a Non-Newtonian yield-stress fluid, in laminar and transitional conditions. The limits of the influence of the impeller speed on the heat transfer, the duration and the energy consumption are determined. In a first approach, the cooling is studied at small scale (0,6L vessel). The variation of the impeller speed during the cooling, affects the profile of temperature. This type of procedure has an advantageous impact on the energy cost and / or the duration of the cooling. The observed tendencies at a small scale are transposed and validated at a pilot scale (60L vessel). Two types of static mixers are studied as continuous technology. Models of pressure drop are established, which are used further in the determination of the energy consumption for the cooling. The performances of these two static mixers are compared, according to the factors of heat transfer efficiency and energy consumption. Finally, a brief comparative analysis is exposed, presenting diverse criteria of choice between the stirred tank and the continuous technology

Identification and functional characterization of muscle satellite cells in Drosophila

Work on genetic model systems such as Drosophila and mouse has shown that the fundamental mechanisms of myogenesis are remarkably similar in vertebrates and invertebrates. Strikingly, however, satellite cells, the adult muscle stem cells that are essential for the regeneration of damaged muscles in vertebrates, have not been reported in invertebrates. In this study, we show that lineal descendants of muscle stem cells are present in adult muscle of Drosophila as small, unfused cells observed at the surface and in close proximity to the mature muscle fibers. Normally quiescent, following muscle fiber injury, we show that these cells express Zfh1 and engage in Notch-Delta-dependent proliferative activity and generate lineal descendant populations, which fuse with the injured muscle fiber. In view of strikingly similar morphological and functional features, we consider these novel cells to be the Drosophila equivalent of vertebrate muscle satellite cells

Potential of Improving Agronomic Attributes in Tropical Legumes Using Two Mutation Breeding Techniques in Southern Africa

Tropical legumes such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) are important in traditional smallholder cropping systems, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Both legumes are adapted to harsh environments including extreme temperatures, drought and poor soil fertility. They provide affordable sources of protein for human consumption and are valuable for income generation. These crops contribute significantly to soil fertility improvement through biological nitrogen fixation. In many parts of Africa, the productivity of these legumes is generally low partly because farmers grow unimproved varieties that are often produced for subsistence purposes on poor soils in mixed cropping systems with limited production inputs. Therefore, this research was designed to evaluate the potential of two distinct mutation breeding approaches in creating useful genetic variation in the two legumes in order to improve the agronomic attributes of both crops. The variation was determined by measuring a range of agronomic traits at both the seedling and adult plant stages. The results showed significant genetic variation among cowpea mutants that were induced with various doses of gamma radiation as well as among tepary bean mutants that were induced with a chemical mutagenic agent, ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS). The optimum doses at LD50 for two cowpea genotypes (Nakare and Shindimba) were ≤200 Gy while the third genotype (Bira) tolerated a dose three-fold higher. In the EMS mutagenesis of tepary bean, the estimated LD50 was ≤2.4% EMS (v/v). In both approaches, percent seed germination decreased with increased dose and the coefficients of determination for the linear functions were high (>75%), suggesting that there were notable associations between the reduction in seed germination and the concentration of the mutagen. At the adult plant stage, tepary bean showed that the mutant generation significantly (P 10.0% increase in both seed size and grain yield potential of some mutant cowpea genotypes compared with the standard check. These findings provide reference doses for large-scale gamma irradiation of cowpea as well as chemical mutagenesis for tepary bean. In addition, the germplasm produced from these approaches has the potential for selection in a range of agro-ecological conditions across the region, thus creating alternative cropping systems for the smallholder growers

Integration of aero-elastic belt into the built environment for low-energy wind harnessing: current status and a case study

Low-powered devices are ubiquitous in this modern age especially their application in the urban and built environment. The myriad of low-energy applications extend from wireless sensors, data loggers, transmitters and other small-scale electronics. These devices which operate in the microWatt to milliWatt power range and will play a significant role in the future of smart cities providing power for extended operation with little or no battery dependence. Low energy harvesters such as the aero-elastic belt are suitable for integration with wireless sensors and other small-scale electronic devices and therefore there is a need for studying its optimal installation conditions. In this work, a case study presenting the Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling of a building integrated with aero-elastic belts (electromagnetic transduction type) was presented. The simulation used a gable-roof type building model with a 27° pitch obtained from the literature. The atmospheric boundary layer flow was employed for the simulation of the incident wind. The work investigates the effect of various wind speeds and aero-elastic belt locations on the performance of the device giving insight on the potential for integration of the harvester into the built environment. The apex of the roof of the building yielded the highest power output for the aero-elastic belt due to flow speed-up maximisation in this region. This location produced the largest power output under the 45° angle of approach, generating an estimated 62.4 mW of power under accelerated wind in belt position of up to 6.2 m/s. For wind velocity of 10 m/s, wind in this position accelerated up to approximately 14.4 m/s which is a 37.5% speed-up at the particular height. This occurred for an oncoming wind 30° relative to the building facade. For velocity equal to 4.7 m/s under 0° wind direction, airflows in facade edges were the fastest at 5.4 m/s indicating a 15% speed-up along the edges of the building

120TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEISMOLOGY IN BULGARIA: MILESTONES, DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS

El territorio de Bulgaria está situado en la parte oriental de la península de los Balcanes, al sureste de Europa, siendo una parte del cinturón sísmico Alpes-Himalaya. Las ciudades más importantes de Bulgaria se encuentran en las inmediaciones de las fallas activas del Neógeno-Cuaternario. Debido a estas circunstancias, el monitoreo organizado de terremotos, así como el desarrollo de la práctica sismológica inició en Bulgaria a fnales del siglo XIX. La fundación de la sismología en Bulgaria ocurrió en 1891 por el meteorólogo y también el primer sismólogo búlgaro Spas Watzof, posteriormente honrado con rango académico. Spas Watzof fundó y organizó un servicio bien direccionado para la observación regular de los efectos co-sismicos y pro-sísmicos de los terremotos. Poco después, en 1903, Bulgaria fue aceptada como miembro de la Asociación Sismológica  Internacional - ISA (predecesora de la Asociación Internacional de Sismología y Física del Interior de la Tierra - IASPEI). Es importante anotar que expertos extranjeros demostraron interés científco en casos de fuertes terremotos que tuvieron lugar en el territorio búlgaro a inicios del siglo XX (Hörnes, 1904; Grablovitz, 1904; Mihailovich, 1933; Richter, 1958), así como en el uso de registros instrumentales hechos en Bulgaria por sus descubrimientos revolucionarios (Reid, 1910; Mohorovicic, 1910). Actualmente, Bulgaria participa en actividades internacionales en el marco de la Comisión Sismológica Europea (ESC) – una comisión regional de la IASPEI, la Federación Internacional de Redes Digitales de Sismógrafos (FDSN), La Sociedad Geofísica Balcánica y la Organización Integral de Tratados de Prohibición de Pruebas Nucleares (CTBTO). La sismología en Bulgaria celebra su 120oaniversario y es razonable que los resultados de los estudios realizados en este periodo tan largo y publicado en revistas y monografías internacionales y búlgaras sea resumido y presentados aquí. Se presenta cronológicamente el resumen de hitos, desarrollos y logros en el campo de la Macrosismología, Sismología Instrumental y Geodinámica en Bulgaria. El documento trata también de difundir más efectivamente la información científca búlgara más allá de sus fronteras e igualmente divulgar algunas peculiaridades y fenómenos sísmicos de la parte centro-oriental de la península Balcánica.The territory of Bulgaria is situated in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, South-Eastern Europe, being a part of the Alpo-Himalayan seismic belt. The most important cities in Bulgaria lie in the vicinity of Neogene-Quaternary active faults. Due to these circumstances organized monitoring of earthquakes as well as development of seismological practice started in Bulgaria at the end of 19th century. The foundation of seismology in Bulgaria was laid in 1891 by the meteorologist and also the frst Bulgarian seismologist Spas Watzof, later honored with academic rank. Spas Watzof founded and organized a well managed service for regular observation of co-seismic and post-seismic effects of earthquakes. Soon after, in 1903, Bulgaria was accepted as a member of the International Seismological Association (the predecessor of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior - IASPEI). It should be noted that foreign experts demonstrated scientifc interest in cases of strong earthquakes that took place on the territory of Bulgaria in the beginning of 20thcentury (Hörnes, 1904; Grablovitz, 1904; Mihailovich, 1933; Richter, 1958) as well as on using instrumental records made in Bulgaria for their revolutionary discoveries (Reid, 1910; Mohorovicic, 1910). At present Bulgaria participates in international activities in the frames of the EuropeanSeismological Commission (ESC) – a regional commission of the IASPEI, the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN), the Balkan Geophysical Society and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). On occasion of the 120thanniversary of the seismology in Bulgaria it is reasonably the results of studies covering such a long period and published in international and Bulgarian journals and monographs to be summarized and presented herein. The summary of the milestones, development and achievements in the feld of Macroseismology, Instrumental seismology and Geodynamics in Bulgaria is chronologically presented. The paper aims also to spread more effectively the Bulgarian scientifc information abroad as well as to popularize some seismic peculiarities and phenomena in the central-eastern Balkan Peninsula

Yield and stability of new cowpea varieties in Zimbabwe

Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) is highly nutritious and fits well in smallholder crop-livestock farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Newly developed cowpea varieties need to be assessed for grain yield performance and stability across environments. Furthermore, a comprehensive understanding of the test environments is crucial in rationalising resources for breeding programmes. The objective of this study was to identify high yielding and stable cowpea genotypes, and determine the ideal (representative and discriminating) testing environments for cowpea in Zimbabwe. Fifteen cowpea genotypes were evaluated at 5 locations, for 2 years under rain-fed conditions. Combined analysis of variance for grain yield across locations and years showed highly significant (P < 0.001) genotype x environment interaction (GE). The variance component due to GE was 6 times larger than that of genotypes. Genotype plus GE biplot showed that environments studied were actually in one mega-environment; and Harare Research Station (HRS) was identified as desirable discriminating and representative environment. Genotypes G1, G11 and G3 were high yielding and more stable than the check varieties, G4 (CBC2) and G7 (CBC3). These genotypes are suitable for release; while HRS is recommended for culling inferior genotypes during early generation testing.Le ni\ue9b\ue9 ( Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) est hautement nutritif et bien adapt\ue9 au syst\ue8me de production associant culture-animal de l\u2019Afrique Sub-Saharienne. Des vari\ue9t\ue9s nouvellement d\ue9velopp\ue9esont besoin d\u2019\ueatre \ue9valu\ue9es pour leur performance en grain et leur stabilit\ue9 \ue0 travers des environnements. De plus, une bonne ma\ueetrise des environnements \ue0 tester en rationalisant les ressources pour les programmes d\u2019am\ue9lioration g\ue9n\ue9tique. L\u2019objective de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019identifier les g\ue9notypes \ue0 haut rendement et stables, et de d\ue9terminer les environnements id\ue9aux (repr\ue9sentatifs et discriminants) pour le ni\ue9b\ue9 au Zimbabwe. Quinze g\ue9notypes du ni\ue9b\ue9 ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9valu\ue9s dans 5 localit\ue9s, pendant deux ans sous des conditions pluviales. Analyse combin\ue9e de variance pour le rendement en grain \ue0 travers les\ua0localit\ue9s et ann\ue9es ont montr\ue9 une interaction g\ue9notype x environnement (GE) significative (P < 0.001). La composante de variance due \ue0 GE \ue9tait 6 fois plus grande que celle des g\ue9notypes. G\ue9notype plus GE biplot a montr\ue9 que les environnements \ue9tudi\ue9s \ue9taient \ue9videmment dans un m\ue9ga-environnement\ua0; et la station de recherche de Harare (HRS) \ue9tait identifi\ue9e comme un environnement d\ue9sirable discriminant et repr\ue9sentatif. Les g\ue9notypes G1, G11 et G3 \ue9taient \ue0 haut rendement et plus stable que les vari\ue9t\ue9s contr\uf4les, G4 (CBC2) et G7 (CBC3). Ces g\ue9notypes sont les plus appropri\ue9s pour d\ue9livrance, alors que HRS est recommand\ue9e pour faible s\ue9lection dans la g\ue9n\ue9ration pr\ue9coce

120TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEISMOLOGY IN BULGARIA: MILESTONES, DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS

El territorio de Bulgaria está situado en la parte oriental de la península de los Balcanes, al sureste de Europa, siendo una parte del cinturón sísmico Alpes-Himalaya. Las ciudades más importantes de Bulgaria se encuentran en las inmediaciones de las fallas activas del Neógeno-Cuaternario. Debido a estas circunstancias, el monitoreo organizado de terremotos, así como el desarrollo de la práctica sismológica inició en Bulgaria a fnales del siglo XIX. La fundación de la sismología en Bulgaria ocurrió en 1891 por el meteorólogo y también el primer sismólogo búlgaro Spas Watzof, posteriormente honrado con rango académico. Spas Watzof fundó y organizó un servicio bien direccionado para la observación regular de los efectos co-sismicos y pro-sísmicos de los terremotos. Poco después, en 1903, Bulgaria fue aceptada como miembro de la Asociación Sismológica  Internacional - ISA (predecesora de la Asociación Internacional de Sismología y Física del Interior de la Tierra - IASPEI). Es importante anotar que expertos extranjeros demostraron interés científco en casos de fuertes terremotos que tuvieron lugar en el territorio búlgaro a inicios del siglo XX (Hörnes, 1904; Grablovitz, 1904; Mihailovich, 1933; Richter, 1958), así como en el uso de registros instrumentales hechos en Bulgaria por sus descubrimientos revolucionarios (Reid, 1910; Mohorovicic, 1910). Actualmente, Bulgaria participa en actividades internacionales en el marco de la Comisión Sismológica Europea (ESC) – una comisión regional de la IASPEI, la Federación Internacional de Redes Digitales de Sismógrafos (FDSN), La Sociedad Geofísica Balcánica y la Organización Integral de Tratados de Prohibición de Pruebas Nucleares (CTBTO). La sismología en Bulgaria celebra su 120oaniversario y es razonable que los resultados de los estudios realizados en este periodo tan largo y publicado en revistas y monografías internacionales y búlgaras sea resumido y presentados aquí. Se presenta cronológicamente el resumen de hitos, desarrollos y logros en el campo de la Macrosismología, Sismología Instrumental y Geodinámica en Bulgaria. El documento trata también de difundir más efectivamente la información científca búlgara más allá de sus fronteras e igualmente divulgar algunas peculiaridades y fenómenos sísmicos de la parte centro-oriental de la península Balcánica.The territory of Bulgaria is situated in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, South-Eastern Europe, being a part of the Alpo-Himalayan seismic belt. The most important cities in Bulgaria lie in the vicinity of Neogene-Quaternary active faults. Due to these circumstances organized monitoring of earthquakes as well as development of seismological practice started in Bulgaria at the end of 19th century. The foundation of seismology in Bulgaria was laid in 1891 by the meteorologist and also the frst Bulgarian seismologist Spas Watzof, later honored with academic rank. Spas Watzof founded and organized a well managed service for regular observation of co-seismic and post-seismic effects of earthquakes. Soon after, in 1903, Bulgaria was accepted as a member of the International Seismological Association (the predecessor of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior - IASPEI). It should be noted that foreign experts demonstrated scientifc interest in cases of strong earthquakes that took place on the territory of Bulgaria in the beginning of 20thcentury (Hörnes, 1904; Grablovitz, 1904; Mihailovich, 1933; Richter, 1958) as well as on using instrumental records made in Bulgaria for their revolutionary discoveries (Reid, 1910; Mohorovicic, 1910). At present Bulgaria participates in international activities in the frames of the EuropeanSeismological Commission (ESC) – a regional commission of the IASPEI, the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN), the Balkan Geophysical Society and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). On occasion of the 120thanniversary of the seismology in Bulgaria it is reasonably the results of studies covering such a long period and published in international and Bulgarian journals and monographs to be summarized and presented herein. The summary of the milestones, development and achievements in the feld of Macroseismology, Instrumental seismology and Geodynamics in Bulgaria is chronologically presented. The paper aims also to spread more effectively the Bulgarian scientifc information abroad as well as to popularize some seismic peculiarities and phenomena in the central-eastern Balkan Peninsula

Re-staging revolution and remembering toward change: National Liberation Front women perform prospective memory in Vietnam

This dissertation explores the politics of memory, and performances of remembering, among the older women who comprise a war veterans association called the Former Women Political Prisoner Performance Group (Doi Van Nghe Cuu Nu Tu Chinh Tri) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Engaging the women’s narrative histories, commemorative performances, and current community and international actions on behalf of children living with Agent Orange-related disabilities at the Lang Hoa Binh orphanage-hospital, this ethnographic and oral history-based project addresses the politics of memory and social activism among the women veterans, and the transgenerational dynamics of violence that affect the children. As a study rooted in the specificity of embodied performance, I attend to the cultural/historical content of the veterans’ narrative and staged performances; the way they tell their respective and collective histories; their reflexive self-theorizing; and the historical, cultural, and political contexts that conjoin their lives with others in Vietnam, specifically exemplified through their relationship to the Lang Hoa Binh children. Among the primary questions addressed are: how are the veterans engaging a performative politics of memory? How does their hauntological memory politics inform the way they address current social transformations in Vietnam as well as problems of transgenerational, transnational violence? What can be learned from the women’s discursively located, insistently anticipatory remembering and the children’s performance-based social interventions? The dissertation’s three core chapters focus on the lives of four veterans. Their remembering prompts discussion of: the powers of performance and performativity in enactments of patriotic femininity, revolutionary masquerade, the politics and pleasures of commemorative tourism, surviving torture, haunting, and the Vietnamese women’s tradition of pain-taking. The final chapter forwards the idea of prospective remembering through discussion of the veteran’s connections to the Lang Hoa Binh children. Prospective remembering describes the veterans’ ethical life-practice of bearing and witnessing the past, of performing remembering into meaningful social action in the present and future. Through the study of individual lives, particular sites, and intimate exchanges, this dissertation explores what it is, or might be, to live more justly with others by way of discerning and practicing a hauntological, performative politics of prospective remembering

Comparative analysis of changes in bioecological indicators of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) for a 28-31 year period

In 2022, a study was conducted with experimental material from the area of Marikostinovo village, covering various aspects of species bioecology. The stability or changes that have occurred in these bioecological parameters after a 28-31 year period were analysed, with research data from this area conducted in the period 1991-1994. The fecundity of pine processionary moths in the 5 generations compared had a stable level of average values above 214 eggs. The long-term observations and reporting of this indicator gave reason to draw the conclusion that in this region of Bulgaria, the species develops stably, successfully overcoming possible occurrences of extremely high temperatures in July and August. In the egg stage, the most significant factor in reducing the number of T. pityocampa is the impact of parasitoids. Its effect is not a constant value but varies widely, being the difference nearly twice. The relative share of eggs destroyed by predators is insignificant. A distinctive feature of the Marikostinovo site is the high relative proportion of dead caterpillars, sterile and empty eggs, with values significantly higher than those in other areas of the species’ global range. This is the warmest and driest region of Bulgaria. The high values of this indicator are also formed by the large number of unfertilised, sterile eggs, reaching in 1994 up to 1/5 of the eggs in the sample. The dominant species, with constant presence in all samples, is Ooencyrtus pityocampae