Size Evolution of Close-in Super-Earths through Giant Impacts and Photoevaporation

The Kepler transit survey with follow-up spectroscopic observations has discovered numerous super-Earth sized planets and revealed intriguing features of their sizes, orbital periods, and their relations between adjacent planets. For the first time, we investigate the size evolution of planets via both giant impacts and photoevaporation to compare with these observed features. We calculate the size of a protoplanet, which is the sum of its core and envelope sizes, by analytical models. N-body simulations are performed to evolve planet sizes during the giant impact phase with envelope stripping via impact shocks. We consider the initial radial profile of the core mass and the initial envelope mass fractions as parameters. Inner planets can lose their whole envelopes via giant impacts, while outer planets can keep their initial envelopes, because they do not experience giant impacts. Photoevaporation is simulated to evolve planet sizes afterward. Our results suggest that the period-radius distribution of the observed planets would be reproduced if we perform simulations in which the initial radial profile of the core mass follows a wide range of power-law distributions and the initial envelope mass fractions are ∼0.1. Moreover, our model shows that the adjacent planetary pairs have similar sizes and regular spacings, with slight differences from detailed observational results such as the radius gap.

218 Replacement of Soybean Meal with Corn DDGS and Crystalline Amino Acids Impacts Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Pigs

This study evaluated the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with DDGS and crystalline amino acids on growth, carcass lean, and carcass yield of finishing pigs. Pigs (n = 480; 83.1±0.35 kg) were blocked by BW and sex and assigned to 80 pens (3 gilts and 3 barrows/pen). Treatments were arranged as a 2×4 factorial with DDGS included at 0 or 20% and L-lysine·HCl (LYS) added at 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6%. Diets were balanced for ideal protein and NE and contained 0.75% and 0.67% SID lysine for Phase 1 (21 days) and Phase 2 (to market, 13 or 20 days), respectively. Only 0.49% LYS was necessary to meet the SID lysine requirement for the highest LYS (0.6%) diet for Phase 2. As LYS increased, dietary SBM inclusion decreased from 21.75% to 2.85% (Phase 1) and 18.75% to 3.35% (Phase 2) for control diets. It decreased from 18.40% to 0% (Phase 1) and 15.40 to 0% (Phase 2) for DDGS diets. During Phase 1, DDGS decreased ADG (992 vs. 1039 g/d; P = 0.031) and ADFI (3424 vs. 3503 g/d; P = 0.061). Increasing LYS linearly decreased ADG (1031, 1037, 1035, 959 g/d; P=0.026) and G:F (299, 295, 298, 281 g/kg; P = 0.026). Treatments did not impact Phase 2 performance. Overall, DDGS reduced ADG (1098 vs. 1131 g/d; P = 0.048) and ADFI (3638 vs 3712 g/d; P = 0.070). Supplemental LYS linearly decreased ADG (1133, 1141, 1120, and 1064 g/d; P = 0.005) and G:F (310, 305, 304, and 295 g/kg; P = 0.006). ADFI increased quadratically (P = 0.002) with LYS within SBM control, but not DDGS (interaction; P = 0.009). Ultrasound loin-eye-area corrected for BW tended to decrease quadratically (48.3, 48.8, 49.1, 47.4 cm2; P = 0.060) with increasing LYS. DDGS reduced carcass yield (72.62 vs. 73.04%; P = 0.034). Replacement of SBM with DDGS and high amino acid inclusion negatively impacted growth performance and carcass yield of finisher pigs.

Climate-induced hysteresis of the tropical forest in a fire-enabled Earth system model

Tropical rainforests are recognized as one of the terrestrial tipping elements which could have profound impacts on the global climate, once their vegetation has transitioned into savanna or grassland states. While several studies investigated the savannization of, e.g., the Amazon rainforest, few studies considered the influence of fire. Fire is expected to potentially shift the savanna-forest boundary and hence impact the dynamical equilibrium between these two possible vegetation states under changing climate. To investigate the climate-induced hysteresis in pan-tropical forests and the impact of fire under future climate conditions, we employed the Earth system model CM2Mc, which is biophysically coupled to the fire-enabled state-of-the-art dynamic global vegetation model LPJmL. We conducted several simulation experiments where atmospheric CO$$_2$$ 2 concentrations increased (impact phase) and decreased from the new state (recovery phase), each with and without enabling wildfires. We find a hysteresis of the biomass and vegetation cover in tropical forest systems, with a strong regional heterogeneity. After biomass loss along increasing atmospheric CO$$_2$$ 2 concentrations and accompanied mean surface temperature increase of about 4 $$^\circ $$ ∘ C (impact phase), the system does not recover completely into its original state on its return path, even though atmospheric CO$$_2$$ 2 concentrations return to their original state. While not detecting large-scale tipping points, our results show a climate-induced hysteresis in tropical forest and lagged responses in forest recovery after the climate has returned to its original state. Wildfires slightly widen the climate-induced hysteresis in tropical forests and lead to a lagged response in forest recovery by ca. 30 years.

Streamflow and its components in Ebinur basin: decoupling of anthropogenic and climatic elements

Detecting and assessing changes in the hydrological cycle and how it responds to a changing environment is essential for maintaining regional ecological security and restoring damaged ecosystems. The Ebinur Lake basin, an important ecological barrier in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang, China, has undergone significant changes in recent decades as a result of massive eco-rehabilitation projects and increased anthropogenic factors. Former studies concentrated on the effect of environmental changes on total runoff, while studies on runoff components in arid region were absent. To solve the above defects, we separated the study period into three phases based on the heuristic segmentation algorithm：the reference phase (1964-1985) and two impact phases: I (1986-2000) and II (2001-2017). The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) surface models were used to determine the contribution of both human activities and climate change to streamflow along with its components. Based on the VIC model of streamflow splitting, the results showed that surface runoff, baseflow and snowmelt accounted for 20.97%, 60.37% and 23.42% of the annual runoff volume respectively. The differential evolution Markov chain (DEMC) algorithm improved the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency by 20% over the traditional SCE-UA algorithm, which exceeded 0.6 and reached reliable level. Increases in cropland and forested land were partially contributed by grassland and heathland throughout the study period, While the leaf area index (LAI) of the season of plant growth showed a trend of 0.002 increase per year. Direct human activity was the main factor in the reduction of runoff in impact phase I and indirect human activity in impact phase II, Whereas, in the total impact phase, climate change was the main driver of runoff increase. Our results provide insight into decision making related to water stress in changing circumstances in arid regions.

Frictional Impact-Contacts in Multiple Flexible Links

Multiple impacts of 2D (planar) open-loop robotic systems composed of [Formula: see text] elastic links and revolute joints are studied in this paper. The dynamic equations of motion for such systems are derived by the Gibbs-Appell recursive algorithm, while the regularized method is employed to model the impact-contact mechanism. The Timoshenko beam theory is used to model the transverse vibrations of the links. Also, both the structural damping and air damping are considered to enhance the modeling accuracy. The system joints are assumed to be frictionless and slack-free, but friction force is included for the links colliding with the ground. The [Formula: see text]-flexible-link system considered goes through a flight phase and an impact phase during its motion. In the impact phase, new equations of motion are derived by including the terms caused by the viscoelastic forces in the system’s differential equations. Owing to the extremely short acting time of the impact force, the related differential equations can be solved only via special treatment, i.e. by detecting the exact moment of impact. To this end, entering or leaving the impact phase is analyzed and controlled with high precision by a special computational algorithm presented in this work. To demonstrate the efficacy and precision of the algorithm developed, computer simulations are conducted to study the dynamic behavior of a 3-link robotic mechanism. To investigate the effect of mode shape on the elastic deformation of links, four different mode shapes are used in the simulations and their results are compared.

Climate-induced hysteresis of the tropical forest in the fire-enabled Earth system model CM2Mc-LPJmL

<p>Tropical rainforests are recognized as one of the terrestrial tipping elements which could have profound impacts on the global climate, once their vegetation has transitioned into savanna or grassland states. While several studies investigated the savannization of, e.g., the Amazon rainforest, few studies considered the influence of fire. Fire is expected to potentially shift the savanna-forest boundary and hence impact the dynamical equilibrium between these two possible vegetation states under changing climate. To investigate the climate-induced hysteresis in pan-tropical forests and the impact of fire under future climate conditions, we coupled the well established and comprehensively validated Dynamic Global Vegetation Model LPJmL5.0-FMS to the coupled climate model CM2Mc, which is based on the atmosphere model AM2 and the ocean model MOM5 (CM2Mc-LPJmL v1.0). In CM2Mc, we replaced the simple land surface model LaD with LPJmL and fully coupled the water and energy cycles. Exchanging LaD by LPJmL, and therefore switching from a static and prescribed vegetation to a dynamic vegetation, allows us to model important biosphere processes, including wildfire, tree mortality, permafrost, hydrological cycling, and the impacts of managed land (crop growth and irrigation).</p><p>With CM2Mc-LPJmL we conducted simulation experiments where atmospheric CO2 concentrations increased from a pre-industrial level up to 1280 ppm (impact phase) followed by a recovery phase where CO2 concentrations reach pre-industrial levels again. This experiment is performed with and without allowing for wildfires. We find a hysteresis of the biomass and vegetation cover in tropical forest systems, with a strong regional heterogeneity. After biomass loss along increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and accompanied mean surface temperature increase of about 4°C (impact phase), the system does not recover completely into its original state on its return path, even though atmospheric CO2 concentrations return to their original state. While not detecting large-scale tipping points, our results show a climate-induced hysteresis in tropical forest and lagged responses in forest recovery after the climate has returned to its original state. Wildfires slightly widen the climate-induced hysteresis in tropical forests and lead to a lagged response in forest recovery by ca. 30 years.</p>

Alternative Approaches to Vocational Education and Training

In this paper, the author uses the planning cycle developed by Cedefop to compare Vocational Education and Training in England and Bulgaria. In the initial phase he uses reports from the EU, OECD and Cedefop to define the issues being faced in both countries. For the conceptualisation phase, the author focuses on the development of the National Qualifications Framework. Formal adoption is represented by the classification of individual vocational courses. The operational phase is interpreted as: the structure and organisation of schools; the curriculum framework; examples of vocational courses in schools and colleges; and work-based learning. Finally, a range of analytical strategies at: student; school; municipality; and national level are used to illustrate the monitoring, evaluation and impact phase.

Exploring the Validity and Operational Impact of Using Allied Health Assistants to Conduct Dysphagia Screening for Low-Risk Patients Within the Acute Hospital Setting

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the agreement between allied health assistants (AHAs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) when completing dysphagia screening for low-risk referrals and at-risk patients under a delegation model and (b) the operational impact of this delegation model. Method All AHAs worked in the adult acute inpatient settings across three hospitals and completed training and competency evaluation prior to conducting independent screening. Screening (pass/fail) was based on results from pre-screening exclusionary questions in combination with a water swallow test and the Eating Assessment Tool. To examine the agreement of AHAs' decision making with SLPs, AHAs ( n = 7) and SLPs ( n = 8) conducted an independent, simultaneous dysphagia screening on 51 adult inpatients classified as low-risk/at-risk referrals. To examine operational impact, AHAs independently completed screening on 48 low-risk/at-risk patients, with subsequent clinical swallow evaluation conducted by an SLP with patients who failed screening. Results Exact agreement between AHAs and SLPs on overall pass/fail screening criteria for the first 51 patients was 100%. Exact agreement for the two tools was 100% for the Eating Assessment Tool and 96% for the water swallow test. In the operational impact phase ( n = 48), 58% of patients failed AHA screening, with only 10% false positives on subjective SLP assessment and nil identified false negatives. Conclusion AHAs demonstrated the ability to reliably conduct dysphagia screening on a cohort of low-risk patients, with a low rate of false negatives. Data support high level of agreement and positive operational impact of using trained AHAs to perform dysphagia screening in low-risk patients.

Upaya Peningkatan Kesehatan Edukasi Kesiapan Warga dalam Menghadapi Bencana Fase Impact di Desa Wonorejo Karanganyar

Background: Indonesia is included in the list of countries most at risk of disaster. So that disaster preparedness is needed which is an effort to prevent the onset of crisis due to disaster which is focused on developing plans to deal with disasters. The problem that arises is that there are still many Indonesian citizens who do not know and understand what a disaster is, how to anticipate and overcome a disaster. The purpose of this community service is to increase community preparedness in the face of the impact phase of disaster in the village of Karanganyar Wonorejo. Methods: The design of this study was a quasi-experiment with a pre-post without control group design involving 29 respondents. Result: The results of education on the readiness of residents in facing the impact phase of the disaster proved to significantly increase knowledge with a p-value of 0.006. Conclusion: Increasing the readiness of citizens in facing disasters in the impact phase can be done by providing massive education and information to the community