This study presents new (n=32) and previously published (n=35) human bone 14C AMS dates from 54 individuals interred in 50 burials in the Plinkaigalis cemetery (3rd–7th century AD, Lithuania). The aim of this study is to establish duration of use and identify temporal subgroups within the cemetery. Individuals in group burials were assessed for temporal agreement across individuals and the dates for individuals with multiple dates were combined using OxCal. The Sum command, Interval command, and two Bayesian models (overlapping and abutting periods of use) were used to approximate the use of the site over time and evaluate the chronology of dated burials. An IDW (inverse distance weighted) model was employed to visualize median radiocarbon dates across the cemetery for comparison to earlier IDW interpolations of time at Plinkaigalis. While the two models cannot be distinguished at this time, it can be determined that the site was likely in continuous use from 200–600 cal AD (Sum), 230–560 cal AD (Model 1), 220–550 cal AD (Model 2), or cal 283–508 AD (IDW). The area of the cemetery associated with earliest use shifted east when the IDW model was compared to original data. There was also poor agreement in some group burials and burials with multiple dates. The models generally agree on assignment of burials to phases, but disparate phase assignment was noted across the IDW and Bayesian models. Temporal subgroups cannot be confidently reclassified beyond early/later periods of use based on these models without additional sampling and refinement of the IDW modeling method.

Understanding how youth perceive household economic hardship and how it relates to their behavior is vital given associations between hardship and behavioral development. Yet, most studies ignore youth’s own perceptions of economic hardship, instead relying solely on caregiver reports. Moreover, the literature has tended to treat economic hardship as a stable force over time, rather than a volatile one that varies month-to-month. This study addressed extant limitations by collecting monthly measures of economic hardship, specifically caregiver- and youth-reported material deprivation and youth-reported financial stress, and youth internalizing and externalizing problems from 104 youth–caregiver dyads (youth: 14–16 years, 55% female, 37% Black, 43% White) over nine months. We examined month-to-month variability of these constructs and how youth-reports of material deprivation and financial stress predicted their behavior problems, controlling for caregiver-reports of material deprivation. We found that hardship measures varied month-to-month (ICCs = 0.69–0.73), and youth-reported material deprivation positively predicted internalizing when examining both within- and between-individual variability (β = .19–.47). Youth-reported financial stress positively predicted within-individual variation in externalizing (β = .18), while youth reports of material deprivation predicted externalizing when looking between families (β = .41). Caregiver-reported material deprivation was unrelated to youth behavior when accounting for youth perceptions of economic hardship.

One of the most important aspects of genetic evaluation (GE) is the definition of contemporary groups (CG), commonly defined as animals of the same sex born in the same herd, year and season. The objective of this study was to use an aridity index (AI) to classify season and evaluate the implications on the GE of Braunvieh cattle. A data set with 32 777 and 22 448 birth weight (BW) and weaning weight adjusted to 240 days (WW) records, respectively, was used to compare two methods of classification of climatic seasons to be used in the definition of CG for GE models. The first method considered rain season criterion (RC), and the second method is a proposed classification using an AI. Both methods were compared using two approaches. The first approach examined differences in mixed models using the RC and AI season to select the best model for BW and WW, evaluated by different goodness of fit measures. The second approach considered fitting a GE model including the season classifications into the CG structure. Lower probability values for season effect and better goodness of fit measures were obtained when the season was classified according to the AI. Results showed that although differences are small, the AI allows a better model fitting for live-weight traits than RC and revealed a re-ranking effect on expected progeny differences data. Further analysis with other traits would demonstrate the extended utility of AI indicators to be considered for fitting models under a climatic change environment.

We study the dynamics of atomization of a liquid column by a coaxial gas flow with varying gas pressures. Specifically, we analyse how the gas density increase associated with elevated gas pressures in the ambient and co-flowing gas jet influences the liquid destabilization and breakup process, as well as the resulting droplet formation and dispersion. We present new experimental results for a coaxial liquid–gas atomizer operating in a high-pressure environment, with gas–liquid momentum ratio in the range $M = 5\unicode{x2013}56$ and pressurized gas densities $\rho _g/\rho _0 = 1\unicode{x2013}5$, where $\rho _0$ is the ambient gas density at standard conditions. High-speed shadowgraphy images are used to quantify the spatially and temporally varying liquid–gas interface in the spray near-field. Liquid core lengths, spreading angles and other spray metrics are presented, and the influence of gas density is identified from the comparison with atomization at atmospheric conditions. In the spray mid-field, phase Doppler interferometry is used in conjunction with laser Doppler velocimetry to quantify the droplet size and velocities, as well as their radial variations across the spray. Results show an increase in droplet size at elevated ambient pressures, when keeping the gas–liquid momentum ratio constant. Finally, we show that these observations are in line with predictions from the Kelvin–Helmholtz and Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities, both of which are relevant to the gas–liquid atomization process.

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a test to evaluate dietitian's clinical competence (CC) about nutritional care in patients with early chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study was conducted through five steps: (1) CC and its dimensions were defined; (2) test items were elaborated, and choice of response format and scoring system was selected; (3) content and face validity were established; (4) test was subjected to a pilot test and those items with inadequate performance were removed; (5) criterion validity and internal consistency for final validation were established. A 120-items test was developed and applied to 207 dietitians for validation. Dietitians with previous CKD training obtained higher scores than those with no training, confirming the test validity criterion. According to item analysis, Cronbach's α was 0⋅85, difficulty index 0⋅61 ± 0⋅22, discrimination index 0⋅26 ± 0⋅15 and inter-item correlation 0⋅19 ± 0⋅11, displaying adequate internal consistency.

A canonical co-axial round-jet two-fluid atomizer where atomization occurs over a wide range of momentum ratios: $M=1.9 - 376.4$ is studied. The near field of the spray, where the droplet formation process takes place, is characterized and linked to droplet dispersion in the far field of the jet. Counterintuitively, our results indicate that in the low-momentum regime, increasing the momentum in the gas phase leads to less droplet dispersion. A critical momentum ratio of the order of $M_c=50$, that separates this regime from a high-momentum one with less dispersion, is found in both the near and far fields. A phenomenological model is proposed that determines the susceptibility of droplets to disperse beyond the nominal extent of the gas phase based on a critical Stokes number, $St=\tau _p/T_E=1.9$, formulated based on the local Eulerian large scale eddy turnover time, $T_E$, and the droplets’ response time, $\tau _p$. A two-dimensional phase space summarizes the extent of these different regimes in the context of spray characteristics found in the literature.

Despite the well-known relevance of twin studies in the medical and social sciences and the growing number of twin registries throughout the world, Latin America has not fully incorporated into the twin research community. We describe the first steps taken toward developing a twin registry in Mexico: its aim, organization, recruiting potential and main short-term objectives.

Priming has proved to enhance seed germination, but most of the research dealing with this topic has been carried out with cultivated species. The potential applications that this process has on wild species, which can be useful for restoration, are usually overlooked. This study analyses the germination response after natural priming and hydropriming of Penstemon roseus and Castilleja tenuiflora, two perennial herbs growing in a protected area known as ‘Parque Ecológico de la Ciudad de México’. Photoblastism was evaluated for both species. Seeds were exposed to a hydration/dehydration cycle and then placed in germination chambers to determine responses to hydropriming. To identify the effects of natural priming, seeds were buried in natural conditions and then recovered every two months and placed in germination chambers. Germination percentages and rates were then quantified. Both species proved to have permeable seed coats. Penstemon roseus seeds are positive photoblastic whereas C. tenuiflora seeds are indifferent to light. Priming methods increased C. tenuiflora germination rates, but they did not affect germination capacity. For P. roseus, priming methods did not improve germination rates, and germination capacity of recovered seeds decreased after the rainy season, suggesting that P. roseus forms a short-term, transient, seed bank. The germination strategies of these two species allow them to occupy suitable microsites for germination and establishment. These responses can be helpful in developing restoration programmes based on the accelerated establishment of native and characteristic successional species.

By using electrochemical tests, small signal variations were study by digital signal processing techniques. Electrochemical noise and electrochemical polarization curves were very useful to obtained electrochemical behavior of alloys, but the low signal levels of measurements obtained showed that some of the information was not likely to be measured and, therefore, not being able to identify. Graphene oxides (GO) samples were prepared by ball milling procedure adding Lithium. SIGVIEW software was used for Digital Signal studies. Comparing, the signals obtained by electrochemical techniques and the research by computational tools; it was possible to find out a behavior path of samples. Display devices made by graphene were observed to provide new information about the structure of samples and how nanotechnology area can be improved. The current investigation aimed at maintaining electrochemical stability, since different deformations, as twisting and bending are quite relevant in portable electronics devices.

This work shows the electrochemical study of nickel (Ni) and TiC/Ni composite immersed in synthetic seawater. In order to characterize the corrosion process, polarization curves (PC) were carried out. All electrochemical measures were made under static conditions, room temperature, atmospheric pressure and 24 hours exposure time. An electrochemical cell with a typical three-electrode array was used. Effect of TiC as reinforcement into the Ni matrix was evaluated. According PC results, it is possible to point out that the corrosion rate (CR) of the TiC/Ni composite was higher than Ni corrosion rate. The obtained results indicate that the corrosion process of both materials is of mixed type, that is to say a process of transfer of load influenced by a mechanism of mass transfer. Observations through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that mechanism of corrosion was cells of differential aeration (difference of concentration of oxygen). The corrosion morphology was localized type (pits and crevice).

A new generation of solar instruments provides improved spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution, thus facilitating a better understanding of dynamic processes on the Sun. High-resolution observations often reveal multiple-component spectral line profiles, e.g., in the near-infrared He i 10830 Å triplet, which provides information about the chromospheric velocity and magnetic fine structure. We observed an emerging flux region, including two small pores and an arch filament system, on 2015 April 17 with the ‘very fast spectroscopic mode’ of the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS) situated at the 1.5-meter GREGOR solar telescope at Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain. We discuss this method of obtaining fast (one per minute) spectral scans of the solar surface and its potential to follow dynamic processes on the Sun. We demonstrate the performance of the ‘very fast spectroscopic mode’ by tracking chromospheric high-velocity features in the arch filament system.

An electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) corrosion study of API X70 steel was carried out in synthetic seawater with different rotation speeds using a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) to control the hydrodynamic conditions at room temperature, atmospheric pressure and 24 h of exposure time. A superficial analysis through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the corrosion type. The rotation speed used was 0 rpm (static condition), 1000, 3000 and 5000 rpm (turbulent flow). The results show that the turbulent flow conditions affect directly the corrosion rate (CR) of the steel, because all values of the CR under turbulent flow conditions are higher than the CR values at static conditions. In addition, it is important to point out that at turbulent flow conditions, the CR increased as the rotation speed also increased. The morphology of the corrosion in all experiments was localized corrosion.